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Pr2-xCaxNiMnO6-δ (PCNMOx, x = 0.0–0.3) are prepared successfully by glycine-nitrate method. The effects of calcium doping to the crystal structure, the oxygen non-stoichiometry, and the cathode properties are evaluated by XRD, SEM, XPS and EIS. The double perovskite PCNMOx crystallize into a monoclinic structure with space group P21/n. The unit cell volumes and thermal expansion coefficients increase systematically with Ca2+ doping, due to the gradual generation of oxygen vacancies in the lattice. Pr2-xCaxNiMnO6-δ exhibits promising chemical compatibility with the electrolyte material Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (GDC) at 1200 °C. The electrochemical characterization results indicate that both oxygen vacancy concentration and electrical conductivity play important roles to cathode properties. The optimum composition Pr1.8Ca0.2NiMnO6-δ shows the lowest polarization resistance of 0.18 Ω cm2 and highest peak power density of 0.3 W cm2 at 700 °C on GDC electrolyte supported fuel cell. The electrochemical impedance measurements under oxygen partial pressures, together with distribution of relaxation times analysis, identify three conjunctive elementary processes involved in the cathode reaction, and prove that the charge transfer process is the major rate-determining step of oxygen reduction reaction.

Coral-like Ag-Mo

Fabrication of non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors based on metal oxides with low valence-state for nanomolar detection of H

Encapsulation of metal oxide anode material with hierarchical structure in graphene-like high conductivity carbon network is conducive to improving the lithium storage performance of the anode material. However, it is very challenging to rational synthesizing anode materials with such structure. Herein, a mesoporous spiny coral-like CoMoO

Response and recovery time to toxic and inflammable hydrogen sulfide (H

Novel sea cucumber-shaped polyaniline/ferric oxide (PANI/Fe2O3) nanocomposites were synthesized using a simple and efficient one step hydrothermal process, and the nanocomposites were further assembled onto a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flexible substrate. Through the monitoring of the resistance of the PANI/Fe2O3 nanocomposites thick films and PANI/Fe2O3-PET flexible sensors, the responses of the sensors to various 100 ppm gases including methanol, triethylamine, aniline and another five gases were obtained. It was found that two kinds of sensors exhibit a high selectivity towards NH3. The PANI/Fe2O3 nanocomposites-based sensor has a good response and a low detection limit (0.3 ppm) at room temperature (20 ± 5 °C). It also shows a good linearity relationship in a certain concentration of NH3. After assembling into the PANI/Fe2O3-PET flexible film sensor, the response of the sensor is significantly increased to 6.12 for 100 ppm NH3, the detection limit is as low as 0.5 ppm, and the sensor shows good stability and linearity, which is more conducive to the application of such a material in wearable gas sensors.

The fiber shaped monoclinic tungsten oxides with high preferential orientation has been synthesized by dialysis and aging treatment at room temperature, of the white precipitates prepared from HCl acidified (NH4)10W12O41 solution. The microstructure evolution of the above tungsten oxide was studied by SEM. The morphology of the powder changed from irregularity to shuttle plate-like during short time dialysis in pure water, and the butterfly shape was obtained after long time treatment. It was found that the nano-particles were rearranged to form nano-fibers on the surface of the butterfly shaped oxide as a function of aging time when the butterfly powder was kept in the original mother liquor. Compared to butterfly oxide, the morphology of fibers exhibited much improved thermal stability. The photochromic property of the tungsten oxide with different morphology was studied. The response time in color change after irradiated by the UV output of a 30 W mercury lamp is 20 s in inert atmosphere and the recovery time in bleach is about 2 months.

Self-assembly of silver(I) salts and three ortho-hydroxyl and carboxyl groups decorated arenesulfonic acids affords the formation of nine silver(I)-sulfonates, (NH(4))·[Ag(HL1)(NH(3))(H(2)O)] (1), {(NH(4))·[Ag(3)(HL1)(2)(NH(3))(H(2)O)]}(n) (2), [Ag(2)(HL1)(H(2)O)(2)](n) (3), [Ag(2)(HL2)(NH(3))(2)]·H(2)O (4), [Ag(H(2)L2)(H(2)O)](n) (5), [Ag(2)(HL2)](n) (6), [Ag(3)(L3)(NH(3))(3)](n) (7), [Ag(2)(HL3)](n) (8), and [Ag(6)(L3)(2)(H(2)O)(3)](n) (9) (H(3)L1 = 2-hydroxyl-3-carboxyl-5-bromobenzenesulfonic acid, H(3)L2 = 2-hydroxyl-4-carboxylbenzenesulfonic acid, H(3)L3 = 2-hydroxyl-5-carboxylbenzenesulfonic acid), which are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, TGA, PL, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is 3-D supramolecular network extended by [Ag(HL1)(NH(3))(H(2)O)](-) anions and NH(4)(+) cations. Complex 2 exhibits 3-D host-guest framework which encapsulates ammonium cations as guests. Complex 3 presents 2-D layer structure constructed from 1-D tape of sulfonate-bridged Ag1 dimers linked by [(Ag2)(2)(COO)(2)] binuclear units. Complex 4 exhibits 3-D hydrogen-bonding host-guest network which encapsulates water molecules as guests. Complex 5 shows 3-D hybrid framework constructed from organic linker bridged 1-D Ag-O-S chains while complex 6 is 3-D pillared layered framework with the inorganic substructure constructing from the Ag2 polyhedral chains interlinked by Ag1 dimers and sulfonate tetrahedra. The hybrid 3-D framework of complex 7 is formed by L3(-) trianions bridging short trisilver(I) sticks and silver(I) chains. Complex 8 also presents 3-D pillared layered framework, and the inorganic layer substructure is formed by the sulfonate tetrahedrons bridging [(Ag1O(4))(2)(Ag2O(5))(2)](∞) motifs. Complex 9 represents the first silver-based metal-polyhedral framework containing four kinds of coordination spheres with low coordination numbers. The structural diversities and evolutions can be attributed to the synthetic methods, different ligands and coordination modes of the three functional groups, that is, sulfonate, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. The luminescent properties of the nine complexes have also been investigated at room temperature, especially, complex 1 presents excellent blue luminescence and can sensitize Tb(III) ion to exhibit characteristic green emission.

Eight novel silver(I) complexes constructed from ortho-hydroxyl arenesulfonic acids, [Ag(NH3)2]·(HL1) (1), [Ag2(L1)]n (2), [Ag2(HL2)(H2O)3]n (3), [Ag(HL3)(MeCN)2]n (4), [Ag2(HL3)2]n (5), [Ag2(HL4)(H2O)3]n (6), {(NH4)2·[Ag(NH3)2]2}·2(H2L5)·5H2O (7), and [Ag(H2L5)0.5]n (8) (H2L1 = 2-hydroxyl-5-methyl-benzenesulfonic acid; H3L2 = 2-hydroxyl-5-methyl-1,3-benzenedisulfonic acid; H2L3 = 2-hydroxyl-5-bromo-benzenesulfonic acid; H3L4 = 2-hydroxyl-5-bromo-1,3-benzenedisulfonic acid; H4L5 = 2,4-dihydroxyl-1,5-benzenedisulfonic acid), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, UV–vis, photoluminescence (PL), powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 has a three-dimensional (3-D) supramolecular framework containing right-handed helical channels through the hydrogen-bonding interactions. Complex 2 exhibits a wavelike “inorgano-organic” layer structure, in which the inorganic substructures consist of Ag1 polyhedral chains linked through Ag2 dimers b...

Four rare organosilver(I) coordination polymers, namely [Ag2L1]n (1), [Ag2L1(H2O)]n (2), [Ag2L2(H2O)]n (3), and [Ag5(L3)(NH3)2(NO3)]n (4) (H2L1 = 2-hydroxy-5-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid, H2L2 = 2-hydroxy-5-bromobenzenesulfonic acid, H4L3 = 4,6-dihydroxy-1,3-benzenedisulfonic acid), have been successfully prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, PL, TG, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 possesses a two-dimensional (2-D) inorganic layer structure. The η1 silver(I)−benzene interactions brings the chlorophenyl moieties closer to the Ag−S−O layers and thus remarkably decreases the gallery height between the two adjacent layers. Complexes 2 and 3 contain pseudocubic tetranuclear units which are further bridged by the η2 silver(I)−benzene interactions to form a new type of 2-D hybrid layer structure which is completely different from that of 1. Complex 4 has a three-dimensional (3-D) organosilver(I) coordination framework, in which the fully deprotonated L34− tetraanion presents an unpr...

The thin films of copper 2, 9, 16, 23-tetra-iso-propoxy phthalocyanine (i-pro-CuPc) were prepared by spin-coating technique. The surface morphology and spectroscopy property of the thin films were characterized by AFM, UV-Vis and FT-IR spectra. The results show that good films can be obtained under certain spinning speed. The gas-sensing properties of the multilayers to three alcohols gas were measured at room temperature. The spin-coating thin films exhibited high sensitivity and rapid response- recovery characteristics to these gases. The response and recovery time of the thin films to 30*10-6 v/v of C2H5OH vapor is only 28 s and 55 s, respectively.

A rare mercury coordination network containing left- and right-handed helical chains [HgL1Br2]n·nDMF (1) [L1 = 1,4-bis(3-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene] and dinuclear complex Hg2L2Br4(DMF)2] (2) [L2 = 1,4-bis(2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene] have been synthesized. The thermal gravimetric and the solid-state luminescent properties of complexes were also investigated.

A facile and efficient strategy is described for the fabrication of soluble reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets. Different from the conventional strategies, the proposed method is based on the reduction of graphene oxide by an endogenous reducing agent from a most widely used and cost-effective solvent, without adding any other toxic reducing agent. Simultaneously, this solvent can serve as an effective stabilizer, avoiding complicated and time-consuming modification procedures. The as-prepared rGO sheets not only exhibit high reduction level and conductivity, but also can be well dispersed in many solvents. Of particular significance is that rGO sheets can be produced in large quantities. These advantages endow this proposed synthetic approach great potential applications in the construction of high-performance graphene-based devices at low cost, as demonstrated in our study of NO gas sensing.

Four new silver(I) polymeric architectures with dimeric and trimeric units, namely [Ag2(L1)2(NO3)2]n (1), [Ag2(L2)2(NO3)2]n (2), {[Ag3(L3)2(NO3)2](NO3)}n·2nCH3OH (3) and [Ag4(L4)4](NO3)4·6CH3CN (4) (L1 = terephthalaldioxime, L2 = isophthalaldioxime, L3 = (E)-N-[2-(pyridin-2-yl)isoindolin-1-yl-idene]pyridine-2-amine, and L4 = 1,3-bis(3-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene), have been synthesized and characterized by the element analysis, IR, TG, PL, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Each ligand acts as bidentate or tridentate mode and every two ligands ligates a pair of silver(I) ions or three resulting in [2+2] or [2+3] metallomacrocyclic motif. Complexes 1 and 2, which assemble from similar angular ligand, exhibit layer or chain structure extended via interconnection of the dimeric units by NO 3 - anions. Complex 3 is a 1-D helical chain extended via interconnection of trimeric units by NO 3 - anions, in which the trimeric unit is further stabilized by intracyclic Ag⋯Ag and π–π interactions. Two independent dimeric units in complex 4 are separately linked through hydrogen-bonding into a 2-D twofold interpenetrating networks. The investigation of luminescent properties demonstrates that complexes 2, 3 and 4 exhibit intraligand emission bands in the blue, green and purple light region at room temperature, respectively.

The reactions of Cd(NO3)2 or AgNO3 with hexamethylenetetramine (hmt) and 4-formylbenzoic acid (4-Hfba) yield three novel supramolecular architectures [Cd(4-fba)2(μ2-hmt)(H2O)]n (1), [Cd(4-fba)2(μ2-hmt)(H2O)2]n·nH2O (2), and [Ag(4-fba)(μ3-hmt)]n·2nH2O (3), which were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, luminescence spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and powder as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analyses show that both complexes 1 and 2 have an one-dimensional motif, except for a distinction arising from the coordination spheres and the bent angles of N–Cd–N. Both complexes are featuring three-dimensional supramolecular frameworks through hydrogen bonding interactions, additional π–π interactions exist for complex 2. Complex 3 contains a classic undulating two-dimensional Ag-hmt layer, which is further axially connected by 4-fba– linkers to give a 3D (3,5)-connected gra net. The luminescence spectra of complexes 1 and 2 show a similar emission in the blue region at room temperature. Furthermore, efforts to further study the postsynthetic modification of these complexes are underway in our laboratory owing to the presence of the pendant formyl groups.

The hydrothermal reaction of Cd(NO3)·4H2O with 4,4′-bipyridine (bipy) and 3-carboxyphenoxyacetatic acid (3-H2CPOA) afforded a 3D metal-organic framework (MOF) [Cd(3-CPOA)(bipy)]n·3.5nH2O, which was characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyses, and X-ray diffraction. The single-crystal structural analysis revealed that it has a Cds-type topological network with 1D channels that contain encapsulated water molecular tapes.

Perovskite type oxides LaNi 1− x Ti x O 3 ( x = 0.0–1.0) were prepared by thermal decomposition of amorphous citrate precursors followed by annealing at 700–1000 °C in ambient air. These products were characterized by various analytical methods such as XRD, FT-IR, EDAX, SEM and XPS. Ti in the LaNi 1− x Ti x O 3 had significant influence on the crystal size of the nanocrystals and the activation energy ( E a ) which was measured at 50–800 °C in air atmosphere. The LaNi 1− x Ti x O 3 system showed an interesting metal-insulator transition with increasing Ti concentration, which can be adjusted to enhance the response and selectivity of the materials to acetone. The LaNi 0.5 Ti 0.5 O 3 -based sensor exhibited a quick change in the resistance to 1–5 ppm acetone within 40 s and took less than 70 s for recovery at 350 °C, which could hardly be influenced by the environmental humidity. The XPS analysis results showed that the adsorbed oxygen on the surface of sensing material and its concentration are the important factors for the acetone detection. The origin of the gas response is attributed to the thermal reaction, which occurs between acetone and adsorbed oxygen species, forming an acetone–oxygen complex, and then the final product CH 3 COOH is desorbed as a gas at 350 °C.

Four flexible bis(pyridyl) ligands, namely, 1,3-bis(2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene (L1), 1,3-bis(3-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene (L2), 1,4-bis(3-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene (L3), and 1,4-bis(2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene (L4), have been synthesized, and the reactions of these ligands with AgX salts (X = NO3−, ClO4−) lead to the formation of six new complexes, [Ag(L1)]2(ClO4)2 (1), [Ag(L2)ClO4]n (2), [Ag(L1)NO3]n (3), [Ag(L3)(PPh3)2]n(NO3)n·nCH3OH (4), [Ag2(L4)(PPh3)2(NO3)2]n·nH2O (5), and [Ag(L4)NO3]n (6), exhibiting from zero-dimensional (0-D) to three-dimensional (3-D) frameworks. In complex 1, the L1 ligand bridges two silver atoms to form a dinuclear with a 24-membered macrometallacyclic ring, while the L1 ligand coordinates to silver atoms to generate a 2-D (4,4) network with two pyridine rings oriented in a divergent fashion (or trans conformation) in complex 3. With a similar trans conformation, L2 in complex 2, L3 in complex 4, and L4 in complex 5 connect the adjacent silver atoms or Ag2O2 units which fo...

The first two-dimensional lanthanum(III) coordination polymer, [La(1,5-NDS)1.5(H2O)5]n(1) (1,5-NDS2− = 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonate), was synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The disulfonate ligands act in the η1:η1:μ2 and η1:η1:η1:μ3 binding modes to link the LaO9 tricapped trigonal prisms into a lamellar structure. It exhibits strong purple emission in the solid state.

Three three-dimensional polymers, namely, [Zn(bpea)(H2O)]n (1), [Cd(bpea)(H2O)]n (2), and [Ni(bpea)(4,4′-bipyridine)(pyridine)]n (3) have been synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of ZnII, CdII, or NiII salts with biphenylethene-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid. Complexes 1 and 2 have a 2-fold interpenetrating three-dimensional (3D) structure with Pts topology, and complex 1 exhibits strong fluorescent emission bands at 435 and 459 nm in the solid state at room temperature. Complex 3 is a 3D structure with an unprecedented 9-fold interpenetrated Ths topology.

Thin films of 2, 9, 16, 23-tetra-octyloxy copper phthalocyanine (CuPcA 8 ) and 2, 9, 16, 23-tetra-hexadecylocy copper phthalocyanine (CuPcA 16 ) were prepared by Langmuir–Blodgett technique and were characterized by UV–vis spectra. The macro-ring orientation of the two copper phthalocyanine molecules in the films was explored by polarized UV–vis spectra. The linear relationship between the absorption intensity and the number of deposited layers confirmed the highly ordered layered-structure of the films. Moreover, it was found the phthalocyanine molecules were arranged with an angle of 49.8° and 63.6° to the substrates for CuPcA 8 and CuPcA 16 , respectively. The gas-sensing properties of the LB films to methanol, ethanol, and propanol were detected at room temperature. By introducing appropriate substituent onto the macro-ring of the phthalocyanine, the molecular orientation in the films could be controlled, and their gas response might be improved.

A two-dimensional barium(II) coordination polymer, [Ba(4-FBA)2(4-FBAH)]n (4-FBA− = 4-formylbenzoate), has been synthesized by the reaction of barium carbonate and 4-formylbenzoic acid. The barium(II) ion is nine-coordinated by eight O atoms from six deprotonated 4-FBA− ligands and one O atom from the terminal 4-FBAH ligand. Adjacent barium(II) ions are linked by the 4-FBA− ligand to furnish a two-dimensional lamellar structure which exhibits blue fluorescent emission in the solid state at room temperature. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Reaction of AgX (X = NO3− and ClO4−) and three flexible bis(pyridyl) ligands with a chelating spacer leads to the formation of eight novel Ag(I)-bis(pyridyl) coordination complexes: {[Ag2L1(NO3)2]n·2nH2O} (1), {[AgL1]n·nClO4} (2), {[AgL2]n·nNO3} (3), {[AgL2]n·nClO4} (4), [Ag2(H2L2)2]·6ClO4·9H2O (5), {[AgL3]n·nNO3·nH2O} (6), {[AgL3]n·nClO4·nH2O} (7), and {[Ag3(L3)2(ClO4)]n·2nClO4} (8) (L1 = N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)propane-1,3-diamine, L2 = N,N′-bis(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)propane-1,3-diamine, L3 = N,N′-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)propane-1,3-diamine), which have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, TG, UV-Vis DRS, PL, powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 presents a (4,4) layered motif which is furnished by the bridging of L1 molecules and nitrate anions in μ4 (κ1N1:κ1N2:κ1N3:κ1N4) and μ2 (κ1O4:κ1O6) modes. With a different μ2 (κ1N1:κ1N2:κ1N3:κ1N4) mode, L1 molecules in complex 2 join the adjacent Ag(I) cations to form a helical chain structure. Complexes 3 and 4 also show helical chain structures with the L2 molecules displaying the same μ3 (κ1N1:κ1N2:κ1N3:κ1N4) mode. The protonation of –NH– groups in the chelating spacer leads to the formation of H2L22+ cations which further results in a macrocyclic dinuclear motif in complex 5. Complexes 6 and 7 are 3-D svi-x nets with the counter-anions and lattice water molecules being encapsulated in the 1-D channels. Complex 8 exhibits a snake-shaped chain with the L3 molecules presenting μ3 (κ1N:κ1N′:κ1N″:κ1N) mode. The structural diversities of complexes 1–8 can be attributed to the coordination modes and conformations of L1–L3. The photoluminescence properties demonstrate that complexes 1, 2 and 5 exhibit ligand-based blue emission maxima from 455 to 462 nm at room temperature in the solid state.

Unusual 3D flower-shaped SnS2 nanostructures have been synthesized using a mild hydrothermal treatment in the presence of octyl-phenol-ethoxylate (Triton X-100) at 160 °C. The nanostructures have an average size of 1 µm, and consist of interconnected nanosheets with thicknesses of about 40 nm. Based on time-dependent experimental results, we ascribe the oriented attachment mechanism to the growth of the SnS2 nanostructures. The nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 plays a key role in the formation of the flower-like morphology. Room temperature gas-sensing measurements show that the 3D SnS2 nanostructures could serve as sensor materials for the detection of NH3 molecules.

SnO2 thin films were prepared by dip-coating from SnO2 sols of 0.5 and 0.1 mol/l. The structure and morphology of the films were analyzed through XRD, UV and AFM methods. The particles in the films were the standard tetragonal phase of SnO2 with spherical morphology. The average size of SnO2 particles was about 87 nm (0.5 mol/l) and 5 nm (0.1 mol/l), respectively. The UV absorbance of the films increased linearly with increasing the deposition layers. The sensitivity of thin films to methanol, ethanol, propanol and acetone was detected at room temperature, and the effects of concentration of SnO2 sols on the morphology and sensitivity of the films were investigated as well. With decreasing the sol concentration, the grain size of the particles reduced, the gas sensing properties to acetone and ethanol increased. Such films with small size could detect ethanol as low as 2 ppm ethanol. Response and recovery time to methanol, ethanol, propanol and acetone at room temperature were within 30 s and 1 min, respectively.

Anatase phase TiO 2 thin films were prepared by dip-coating technique. Atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), FT-IR and UV–vis spectra were used for the structural characterization of the TiO 2 films. The results showed that the titania particle was in anatase phase. The FT-IR spectrum exhibited a strong absorption peak at 631 cm −1 which was ascribable to the Ti–O vibration of the anatase phase. The AFM image of the thin films revealed the formation of a uniform but highly porous structure having mean particle size of about 14.89 nm. The results of UV–vis spectra indicated that each coated film could be well transmitted to the substrate. The sensing properties of TiO 2 films were tested to methanol, ethanol and n -propanol at room temperature. The thin films exhibited high response to these gases. When the gas concentration was 10 ppm, the response was 2.6, 2.0 and 7.5 to methanol, ethanol and n -propanol, respectively. The films could detect as low as 3 ppm n -propanol, 10 ppm methanol and 10 ppm ethanol. The response and recovery time were within 1 min and 80 s, respectively.

α-Fe 2 O 3 hydrosol was synthesized by sol–gel method with FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O as the raw material and its thin films were prepared by dip-coating technique. The structure, morphology and spectroscopy of the thin films were characterized by XRD, AFM, UV–vis and FT-IR analysis methods. The results showed that uniform α-Fe 2 O 3 monolayer and multilayers could be obtained at certain dip-coating speed. The particles were pseudocubic shaped, with the mean particle size of about 58 nm. The formation mechanism of α-Fe 2 O 3 particles was explored by IR spectra and the change of the system acidity and conductivity. The results indicated that α-Fe 2 O 3 particles formed from the intermediate complex β-FeOOH. The gas-sensing properties of the multilayers to alcohols with different chain length were measured at room temperature. The thin films exhibited high sensitivity and rapid response–recovery characteristics to these gases. The film can detect C 3 H 7 OH vapor concentration as low as 2 ppm. The response and recovery time of the film to CH 3 OH and C 2 H 5 OH vapor is within 20 and 50 s, respectively.

Octaethyoxyl-2,3-naphthalocyanine and octabutoxy-2,3-naphthalocyanine copper (II) Langmuir monolayers were obtained at air–water interface. The aggregate forms of CuNc(OC4H9)8 in chloroform solution at different aging times were studied. The CuNc(OC2H5)8 and CuNc(OC4H9)8 molecules were successfully transferred onto the solid substrate as Y-type mode by LB technique. The structure of LB films was characterized by IR and electronic spectra. The results show that the CuNc(OC2H5)8 and the CuNc(OC4H9)8 molecules were mainly arranged as J-aggregate in the film. The gas sensitivity of the films to alcohols with different chain lengths was measured at room temperature. The octaethyoxyl-2,3-naphthalocyanine LB films exhibit good sensitivity and good selectivity to propyl alcohol (10–30 ppm). This indicates that CuNc(OC2H5)8 can be exploited as ambient alcohol sensor.

Hydrothermal reaction of Cd(NO3)2 · 4H2O with 1,10-phen and 1,4-BDOAH2 yields a two-dimensional cadmium(II) coordination polymer, [Cd(1,4-BDOA)(1,10-phen)] · H2O, in which CdN2O5 pentagonal bipyramids are linked together to construct a lamellar structure. It exhibits strong blue fluorescent upon photoexcitation.

Two new two-dimensional coordination polymers, poly-[[[aqua(2,2'-bipyridine-κ 2 N,N')manganese(II)]-μ 3 -p-Phenyl-euebis(oxyacetato)-κ 3 O:O':O] dihydrate], ([Mn(C 10 H 8 O 6 )-(C 10 H 8 N 2 )(H 2 O)].2H 2 O)} n , (I), and poly[[di-μ-aqua-bis[aquasodium(I)]]-μ 4 -p-phenylenebis(oxyacetato)-κO:O',O:O''', O'''':O'''''], [Na2(C 10 H 8 O. 6 )(H 2 O) 4 ] n , (II), have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. In (I), there are two 1,4-BDOA 2- [p-phenylenebis(oxyacetate) or, more commonly, benzene-1,4-dioxyacetate] ligands, each lying about inversion centres, while in (II), there is one such ligand and it also has crystallographically imposed inversion symmetry. In (I), each Mn II atom displays an octahedral MnN 2 O 4 configuration, defined by three carboxyl 0 atoms of different 1,4-BDOA 2- groups, two N atoms of one 2,2'-bipyridine ligand and one water molecule. In (II), each Na' atom is octahedrally coordinated by one ether O atom, two carboxyl O atoms of different 1,4-BDOA 2- ligands and three water molecules. The metal ions in complexes (I) and (II) are bridged by 1,4-BDOA 2- groups into two-dimensional layer structures. Furthermore, three-dimensional supramolecular networks are constructed via hydrogen bonds in (I) and (II), and by additional π-π stacking interactions in (I).

La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3–Ce0.7Bi0.3O2 (LSCF–CBO) composite electrode has been prepared by polymer–gel method. SEM results showed that the composite electrode formed good contact with Ce0.9Gd0.1O2−δ (CGO) electrolyte after sintering at 900 °C for 2 h. AC impedance spectroscopy and dc polarization measurements were used to study the composite electrode performances in different atmospheres. The ( p O 2 )1/2 relationship of Rp (polarization resistance) with oxygen partial pressure has been observed, which indicated that the oxygen adsorption/desorption process was the reaction rate limiting step. The polarization resistance decreased with increasing CBO contents. The optimum value of 35 vol.% CBO in LSCF resulted in 0.16 Ω cm2 area specific resistivity (ASR) at 706 °C in air, which indicated that the LSCF–CBO composite electrode was a promising cathode material in ITSOFC.

ZnO thin films were prepared by sol–gel dip coating method using zinc acetate dihydrate and 2-ethanolamine as the starting materials. The powder and its thin film were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and IR spectra methods. The results indicated that the ZnO particles crystallized in the wurtzite phase, which were well-distributed in the films with the mean particle size of about 10 nm. The IR spectra of the gel and powders annealed at different temperatures were investigated. It showed that the vibration bands of NH and mono-acetate diminished and the stretching mode of ZnO at 471 cm−1 appeared after the dried gel annealed at 500 °C for 1 h. The diameter, D of ZnO particles in the monolayer was also calculated from the optical spectroscopy curve, which is close to that obtained from AFM observation. The gas-sensing properties of the multi-layers for alcohols with different chain lengths were measured at room temperature. The thin films exhibited high sensitivity and rapid response–recovery characteristics to these gases. The film can detect methanol, ethanol and propyl alcohol vapor as low concentration as 1, 10, and 0.5 ppm, respectively.

In order to develop a cathode that can be used in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (ITSOFC), the composite materials La0.8Sr0.2MnO3–Ce0.7Bi0.3O2 (LSM–CBO) has been prepared and its electrode performances are investigated below 700 °C by AC impedance spectroscopy and dc polarization measurements. Results indicate that the oxygen adsorption process is the reaction rate limiting step. The polarization resistance decreases with the increasing of CBO contents. The optimum value of 50 wt.% CBO in LSM results in 1.78 Ω cm2 area specific resistivity (ASR), which indicates that the LSM–CBO composite electrode is a promising cathode material in ITSOFC.

A nanoparticulate ferric oxide–copper tris(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)-8-quinolinolylphthalocyanine hybrid ultrathin film was constructed from alternate layers by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique. The composition, morphology and structure of the film were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, small-angle X-ray diffraction, visible spectroscopy and polarized UV-Vis spectroscopy. All the above analyses suggest that the thin film is a kind of one-dimensional superlattice, composed of organic and inorganic components. The XPS data reveal that the nanoparticulate ferric oxide exists as an α-Fe2O3 phase in the films. Gas-sensing measurements show that the hybrid LB film has very fast response-recovery characteristics towards 2 ppm C2H5OH vapor.

In the C(2)-symmetric dinuclear title complex, [Zn(2)(C(18)H(13)N(4)O(2))(2)(C(2)H(3)O(2))(2)] x 4 H(2)O, each Zn(II) ion is five-coordinated in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal fashion by one carboxylate O atom from one benzoate ligand, one imine N atom and two pyridyl N atoms from a second benzoate ligand, and one O atom from an acetate anion. The two Zn atoms are bridged by the two benzoate ligands, forming a dinuclear structure with a 14-membered macrocycle. Adjacent dinuclear units are further connected by extensive hydrogen bonds involving the solvent water molecules, giving a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded framework. The framework can be regarded as an example of the four-connected node network of the PtS topology.

In the title coordination polymer, [Cd(C5H2N2O4)(H2O)]n, the CdII atom is six-coordinated by one N atom and four O atoms from three individual imidazole-4,5-dicarboxyl­ate (HIDC2−) anions and the O atom of a water mol­ecule. The HIDC2− anion serves as a bridging ligand to link the CdII atoms into a two-dimensional network.

In the title complex, {[Mn(C4O4)(C10H8N2)(H2O)]·H2O}n, each MnII ion has a distorted octa­hedral coordination formed by two N atoms of a 2,2′-bipyridine ligand, three carboxyl O atoms of three different acetyl­ene­dicarboxyl­ate ligands and one coordinated water mol­ecule. The acetyl­ene­dicarboxyl­ate ligands act in a tridentate mode connecting adjacent MnII ions and constructing a two-dimensional structure which can be regarded as an unusual plywood-like stacked network.

In the title coordination polymer, [Zn(C5H2N2O4)(H2O)]n, each ZnII atom is six-coordinated by one N atom [Zn—N = 2.250 (7) A] and four O atoms [Zn—O = 2.289 (6)–2.435 (6) A] from three different HIDC ligands (H3IDC = imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid), and one water mol­ecule [Zn—O = 2.311 (6) A] in a highly distorted octahedral geometry. In the crystal structure, a three-dimensional supra­molecular network is constructed via hydrogen-bonding inter­actions involving the water mol­ecules, uncoordinated imidazole N atom and carboxyl­ate O atoms.

In the title complex, [Zn(C8H5O3)2(H2O)2]·H2O, the Zn atom exhibits a distorted tetra­hedral coordination environment defined by two carboxylate O atoms and two water mol­ecules. The coordinated and uncoordinated water mol­ecules participate in a three-dimensional supra­molecular network of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

The Zn atom in the title complex, [Zn(C8H5O3)2(C12H8N2)(H2O)], is coordinated by two O atoms of formyl­benzoate carboxyl­ate groups, two N atoms of a 1,10-phenanthroline ligand and one water mol­ecule, giving rise to a square-pyramidal coordination geometry. Adjacent complex mol­ecules are linked into a one-dimensional chain structure via π–π stacking inter­actions, with centroid–centroid distances of 3.531 (3) and 3.664 (3) A.

In the title compound, [Co(CH3OH)4(H2O)2]SO4, the CoII atom and S atom lie on special positions on a twofold rotation axis. The CoII ion is six-coordinated by four O atoms of methanol mol­ecules and two water mol­ecules in a distorted octa­hedral geometry. The cations and anions are linked by hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional supra­molecular network.