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Boron, essential for plant growth, necessitates precise regulation due to its potential toxicity. This regulation is achieved by borate transporters (BORs), which are homologous to the SLC4 family. The Arabidopsis thaliana Bor1 (AtBor1) transporter from clade I undergoes slow regulation through degradation and translational suppression, but its potential for fast regulation via direct activity modulation was unclear. Here, we combine cryo-electron microscopy, mutagenesis, and functional characterization to study AtBor1, revealing high-resolution structures of the dimer in one inactive and three active states. Our findings show that AtBor1 is regulated by two distinct mechanisms: an autoinhibitory domain at the carboxyl terminus obstructs the substrate pathway via conserved salt bridges, and phosphorylation of Thr410 allows interaction with a positively charged pocket at the cytosolic face, essential for borate transport. These results elucidate the molecular basis of AtBor1's activity regulation and highlight its role in fast boron level regulation in plants. Boron is essential for plant growth, and its transport is tightly regulated. Here, the authors present structures of the borate transporter AtBor1 in both inactive and active states, revealing how its C-terminal domain mediates autoinhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed lead‐tinv halide (LTH) perovskite solar cells (LTH‐PSCs) can reduce the toxicity concerns of full lead‐based PSCs and potentially optimize the bandgap to maximize efficiency. However, commonly used hole‐transporting material (HTM) 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenyl‐amine)9,9′‐spirobifluorene (Spiro‐OMeTAD) with additional dopants Li‐bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (Li‐TFSI) and 4‐tert‐butylpyridine (t‐BP) deteriorate oxidation Sn2+ to Sn4+ leading to trap formation. Here, the study introduces a novelty Sn‐friendly HTM for Sn‐rich LTH‐PSCs, combining Spiro‐OMeTAD with 4‐Isopropyl‐4′‐methyldiphenyliodonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (dpi‐TPFB) as a dopant and blended with poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,3‐diyl) (P3HT). This blended HTM avoids the harmful effects of Li‐TFSI and t‐BP dopants and leverages the beneficial hydrophobic properties of P3HT, which predominantly resides on the surface with a face‐on orientation. This arrangement not only enhances charge transport and extraction but also improves device stability by protecting the perovskite from environmental factors. Optimizing the P3HT concentration of blended HTM achieved a PCE of 17.27%, the highest reported for n‐i‐p structured Sn‐rich mixed LTH‐PSCs. This HTM also significantly improved device stability, maintaining over 90% of the initial PCE after 3000 h of storage and 80% under maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for 550 h in the air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of novel narrow-band emitting phosphors with high efficiency and stability is of great significance for WLED backlights. In recent years, the research on Bi3+-activated narrow-band emitting phosphors has gained significant attention for developing novel phosphors for WLED backlight applications. This Frontiers article presents recent advances in Bi3+-activated narrow-band emitting phosphors, encompassing their coordination environment and photoluminescence properties. The latest advancements in Bi3+-activated narrow-band emitting phosphors are categorized into four types based on host materials: germanate, silicate, borate, and other hosts. Additionally, detailed discussions are provided on the challenges associated with developing novel Bi3+-activated narrow-band emitting phosphors and potential research directions for future work. Overall, the Bi3+-activated narrow-band emitting phosphors have demonstrated great potential for WLED backlights; however, significant efforts are still required to enhance their comprehensive performance in order to meet practical application requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving versatile room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials, especially with tunable mechanical properties and shape memory is attractive and essential but rarely reported. Here, a strategy was reported to realize multi-functional RTP films with multicolor fluorescence, ultralong afterglow, adjustable mechanical properties, and shape memory through the synergistic dynamic interaction of lanthanide (LnIII)-terpyridine coordination, borate ester bonds, and hydrogen bondings in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix. By varying the amount of borax, the mechanical properties of the films could be finely controlled due to the change of crosslinking degree of dynamic borate ester bonds in PVA. The assembly and disassembly of borate ester bonds upon the trigger of borax and acid were applied as reversible linkage to achieve programmable shape memory behavior. In addition, the films displayed both fascinating multicolor fluorescence and ultralong afterglow characteristics due to the presence of LnIII doping and confinement of terpyridine in PVA. This study provides a new avenue to impart modulable mechanical strength and shape memory to RTP materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the transition-metal-free coupling for polyfluoroalkoxy arenes using polyfluoroalkoxy borates, which serve as counterions to diaryliodonium salts and transferring mediators of polyfluoroalkoxy groups. This strategy demonstrates high functional group compatibility owing to the low nucleophilicity of the borate mediator, thus offering a practical approach for synthesizing diverse polyfluoroalkoxy arenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BiVO4 is an attractive photoanode material for water oxidation, but requires surface treatment to improve the energy efficiency and stability. Herein, we investigate the role of borate buffer in activating the BiVO4 photoanode. We found that trace iron impurities in the borate buffer play a critical role in activating the photoanode. By optimizing the activation conditions, the photocurrent density attains 4.5 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE without any cocatalysts, alongside a high ABPE value of 1.5% at 0.7 VRHE. Our study discloses the role of iron in the activation effect of borate buffer on the BiVO4 photoanode, which has implications for other catalytic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many challenges in lithium‐sulfur (Li–S) batteries are associated with the radical change in lithium polysulfide (LPS) solubility during cycling, but chemical approaches to address such inconsistency are still lacking. Here, the use of a strong Lewis acidic fluorinated organoboron, tri(2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl) borate (TFEB), is reported as a multi‐functional mediator to simultaneously overcome multiple technical barriers in practical Li–S batteries. TFEB acts as an anion acceptor and forms strong molecular complexes with Lewis basic LPS. The TFEB‐LPS complexes have consistent solubility across the full polysulfide spectrum and deliver several times improved better redox kinetics, unlocking a true redox catalytic mechanism that covers the majority of redox events in thick sulfur cathodes. As a result, Li–S batteries evaluated under practical conditions exhibit significantly improved discharge capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability with the addition of the TFEB additive. More importantly, TFEB also contributes to the stabilization of lithium anode in the presence of polysulfides by generating strong interfacial film. These attributes significantly improve the cycling stability of practical Li–S pouch cells, which are assembled with a unit energy density of 219 Wh kg−1. The results provide new molecular insights on the design of unlocking solvation networks of practical Li–S systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there are still challenges in developing highly efficient and thermally stable phosphors for ultraviolet/near ultraviolet-white light emitting diodes (UV/NUV-WLEDs). Herein, we use traditional high-temperature solid-state reactions to prepare blue-emitting phosphors Lu5-xBa6B9O27:xCe3+ (0.1% ≤ x ≤ 3.0%) and Lu4.975Ba6-ySryB9O27:0.5%Ce3+ (0% ≤ y ≤ 20%), and green-emitting phosphors Lu4.975-zBa6B9O27:0.5%Ce3+,zTb3+ (0% ≤ z ≤ 16%), abbreviated as LBB:xCe3+, LBB:0.5%Ce3+,ySr2+ and LBB:0.5%Ce3+,zTb3+, respectively. Upon 340 nm excitation, LBB:Ce3+ exhibits an asymmetric blue emission ranging from 360 nm to 480 nm. Furthermore, the emission intensity of LBB:0.5%Ce3+ increased 4.8-fold without a spectral shift through the partial substitution of Sr2+ for Ba2+. Through constructing the Ce3+ → Tb3+ energy transfer in the LBB structure, the temperature-dependent integral emission intensity at 483 K improved from only 25% to 68% of the intensity at 303 K due to the existence of fast energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+. The related results indicate that LBB:xCe3+, LBB:0.5%Ce3+,ySr2+ and LBB:0.5% Ce3+,zTb3+ phosphors can be used for UV/NUV-WLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed radical C‐glycosylation using photoexcitable unprotected glycosyl borate. The direct excitation of glycosyl borate under visible light irradiation enabled the generation of anomeric radical without any photoredox catalysts. The in situ generated anomeric radical was applicable to the radical addition such as Giese‐type addition and Minisci‐type reaction to introduce alkyl and heteroaryl groups at the anomeric position. In addition, the radical–radical coupling between the glycosyl borate and acyl imidazolide provided unprotected acyl C‐glycosides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mixed transition metal borate Co5–xVxCoy[B12O26–z(OH)z] was synthesized in a Walker-type module using the high-pressure/high-temperature approach at 12 GPa and 1,300 °C. The product crystallizes in the space group I41/acd. It is isotypic to other 3d metal cation borates of the M5[B12O25(OH)]–M5M[B12O22(OH)4] solid solution series. The title compound features three different metal cation positions; one octahedral site contains a mixture of V and Co, another octahedral site is fully occupied with Co, and a cuboctahedral position that is partially occupied with Co. It is the first compound within this structure type to contain Co, increasing the range of elements that can be incorporated and thus illustrating the adaptability and structural diversity of this anionic borate network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Na3Nd(BO3)2-NdBO3 phase diagram was investigated by the solid-state synthesis and DSC methods. Na3Nd(BO3)2, Na3Nd2(BO3)3 and NdBO3 were grown by spontaneous crystallization from the Na2O-B2O3-NaF flux. Typical Nd3+ luminescence of 4F3/2 → 4I9/2 and 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 electron transitions at 875 nm and 1054 nm were registered. Maximum integral intensity of the luminescence was observed for Na3Nd2(BO3)3 crystals, more than twice that of NdBO3, Na3Nd(BO3)2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flame-retardant behavior of flax fabric coated by calcium borate powders with clove-like and elongated morphologies was investigated by thermal analysis and cone calorimeter. PDA was used to form strong and uniform adhesion of calcium borate onto fabric. Thermal analysis showed a 20% of decrease in mass loss, while detected exothermic/endothermic peaks as a result of the degradation of fabric and PDA. Significant reductions in HRR, p-HRR, EHC and CO2 amount were observed for fabric coated by PDA and elongated calcium borate powder. PDA was carbonized at low temperatures and formed a char layer that prevented flame propagation. At the same time, calcium borate powder dilutes the flammable gases in the environment with the release of water within its body. Among the calcium borate powders, rod-like morphology showed the best flame-retardant performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mixed transition metal borate Co5–xVxCoy[B12O26–z(OH)z] was synthesized in a Walker-type module using the high-pressure/high-temperature approach at 12 GPa and 1,300 °C. The product crystallizes in the space group I41/acd. It is isotypic to other 3d metal cation borates of the M5[B12O25(OH)]–M5M[B12O22(OH)4] solid solution series. The title compound features three different metal cation positions; one octahedral site contains a mixture of V and Co, another octahedral site is fully occupied with Co, and a cuboctahedral position that is partially occupied with Co. It is the first compound within this structure type to contain Co, increasing the range of elements that can be incorporated and thus illustrating the adaptability and structural diversity of this anionic borate network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and selective oxidation of ethylene glycol is challenging due to uncontrollable C–C bond cleavage. We propose an electrochemical strategy for the selective electrooxidation of ethylene glycol to sythesise lactic acid on a Ni-based electrocatalyst by controlling the pH value of the electrolyte solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sr3B2O6–YbBO3 diagram was constructed based on samples obtained by the solid-state synthesis. In the system YbBO3, Sr3Yb(BO3)3, Sr3Yb2(BO3)4 and Sr3B2O6 phases were identified by XRD analysis. Diffusion experiments showed formation of solid solutions between all compounds. These solid solutions demonstrate typical near-infrared luminescence in the range of 960-1020 nm, characteristic of Yb3+ and related to 2F5/2 → 2F7/2 transitions in ytterbium ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis and reactivity with carbon dioxide (CO2) of divalent samarium in the bis-tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand environment has been reported. In addition, CO2 activation and functionalisation by lanthanide silylamides in the bis-tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand environment was demonstrated. Reduction of the Sm(III) precursor [Sm(Tp)2(OTf)] (Tp = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate; OTf = triflate) with KC8 yielded the insoluble Sm(II) multi-metallic coordination polymer [{Sm(Tp)2}n] 1-Sm. Addition of 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) to 1-Sm enabled isolation of the monomeric complex [Sm(Tp)2(DME)] 1-Sm(DME). Complex 1-Sm(DME) reduced CO2 to yield the oxalate-bridged dimeric Sm(III) complex [{Sm(Tp)2}2(μ-η2:η2-O2CCO2)] 2-Sm. The reactions of heteroleptic Ln(III) silylamide complexes [Ln(Tp)2(N′′)] (Ln = Y, Sm; N′′ = N(SiMe3)2) with CO2 yielded monomeric Ln(III) silyloxides [Ln(Tp)2(OSiMe3)] 3-Ln and trimethylsilyl isocyanate (O＝C＝NSiMe3). Complexes 3-Ln are the first crystallographically characterised examples of Ln(III)–OSiMe3 bonds accessed via CO2 activation and functionalisation. Full characterisation data are presented for all complexes, including solid-state molecular structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transposition reactions, i. e. switching the position of functional groups, are a powerful tool for molecular editing. The transposition of a halogen atom attached to an aromatic ring, referred to as the halogen dance reaction, has great potential in the fields of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, natural products, and functional materials. However, the substrate scope of this reaction is limited owing to the intrinsic difficulty in facilitating multiple catalytic cycles involving several aryllithium species. In this concept paper, recent advances in halogen dance catalysis that have expanded the substrate scope of this reaction are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, aqueous sodium borohydride and ammonia solution as dual precipitating reagents were explored one after another via one-pot synthesis to develop Ce-based three different luminescent materials. The borate, i.e., (Y, Al) BO 3 , and mixed borate-oxide, i.e., YBO 3 -YAG, were obtained at 1000 °C and 1200 °C, respectively. The mixed borate-oxide was stable up to 1400 °C with increased YAG phase. However, the oxide-based materials consisting of YAG with secondary phases Al 2 O 3 and CeO 2 were confirmed at 1500 °C. The emission behavior confirmed that the borate/mixed borate-oxide showed a deep blue. Further, broad emissions centered at 380/420 nm and 533 nm for the mixed borate-oxide calcined at 1400 °C exhibited lighter blue. However, the color of the oxide, i.e., YAG-based material, showed near white emission due to the equal contribution of these broad emissions. The color of mixed borate-oxide and oxide-based materials was further altered to greenish yellow by switching the excitation wavelength from 354 nm to 425 nm. The electroluminescence behavior further confirmed the generation of white light for epoxy-containing YAG-based powders over a blue LED. The emission behavior of one-pot synthesized different luminescent materials may be explored in illumination, anticounterfeiting, security, fraud deterrent, and the like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borates have garnered a lot of attention in the realm of solid‐state chemistry due to their remarkable characteristics, in which the synthesis of borates with isolated [BO3] by adding rare‐earth elements is one of the main areas of structural design study. Five new mixed‐metal Y‐based rare‐earth borates, Ba2ZnY2(BO3)4, KNa2Y(BO3)2, Li2CsY4(BO3)5, LiRb2Y(BO3)2, and RbCaY(BO3)2, have been discovered using the high‐temperature solution approach. Isolated [BO3] clusters arranged in various configurations comprise their entire anionic framework, allowing for optical anisotropy tuning between 0.024 and 0.081 under 1064 nm. In this study, we characterize the relative placements of their [BO3] groups and examine how their structure affects their characteristics. The origin of their considerable optical anisotropy has been proven theoretically. This study unequivocally demonstrates that even a slight alteration to borates′ anionic structure can result in a significant improvement in performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of aluminum borate ceramics (ABCs) with needle-like whiskers were obtained using a low-cost, solid-state, pressureless sintering ceramic route, without any additives during the preparation process. The effects of different alumina/boric acid molar ratios and sintering temperatures on the phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, specific surface area, pore size distribution, and sub-cadmium neutron shielding properties of ABCs were studied using orthogonal experiments. It was observed that pure phase aluminum borate (Al18B4O33) ceramics could be obtained at 1100 ℃, forming a mass of needle-like whiskers. The whiskers' aspect ratio, fracture work, specific surface area, and pore size distribution of ABCs are maximized when ABCs are sintered at 1100 ℃ with 9:6 alumina/boric acid molar ratio. In this condition, ABCs (0.5 cm) can shield 70% of sub-cadmium neutrons (E<0.4 eV). These findings demonstrate the great potential of aluminum borate ceramics for neutron shielding applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel boron‐containing novolac (triphenyl borate‐formaldehyde resin, TPBF) was synthesized. The structure, thermoplasticity, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution of TPBF have been characterized with FT‐IR, melt viscosity, 13C NMR and GPC. The thermal stability of TPBF was investigated by TGA, indicating the thermal stability of TPBF was much better than that of normal novolac (phenol‐formaldehyde resin, PF). TPBFs with different molar ratios of formaldehyde to benzene ring in triphenyl borate (TPB) were also synthesized and compared for molecular size, polydispersity and thermal stability. Further, the thermal degradation kinetics of TPBFs and PF were studied by TGA using Madhusdanan‐Krishnan‐Ninan method and the activation energies were calculated at different degradation stages. It was found that the thermal degradations of TPBFs and PF are a multistage reaction and the degradation reactions in every stage follow the first order reaction mechanism. Finally, the activation energies of thermal degradations of novolac increase with the introduction of boron, the progress of degradation reaction as well as the increase of molar ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was conducted into the impact of titanium ion (TiO2) on the structural, dielectric, and shielding characteristics of glasses. Density improved from 3.70 to 3.93 g cm−3 as samples containing titanium ions rose from 0.0 to 10 mol% in the glasses network. FTIR investigations revealed the development of functional groups and units, including bridging BO4 and non-bridging BO3, in our recently developed glasses. Throughout the low frequency range, the dielectric constant of every glass filled with various amounts of TiO2 mol% sharply decreased as frequency increased. The dielectric constant value appeared semi-constant as the TiO2 level increased to 4 mol% and then increased at higher concentrations. Every glass that was examined showed distinct relaxation peaks on their measured loss tangent (tan δ) between 100 Hz and 20 kHz. The exposure (EBF) as well as energy absorption (EABF) buildup factors of Ti-X glasses were computed using Phy-X/PSD software as a function of photon energy at 1–40 MFP. Both EBF and EABF improved with increasing photon energy until they reached a maximum, at which point they declined as photon energy continued to rise. The Ti-10.0 glass sample which contains the highest doping of the TiO2 is the most effective removal cross-section. The sample Ti-10.0 had the lowest relaxation length (λFCS) and half value layer (HVLFCS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal chemistry of inderborite, a B-rich mineral (B2O3 ~41 wt%) with ideal formula CaMg[B3O3(OH)5]2·6H2O or CaMg[B3O3(OH)5]2(H2O)4(H2O)4·2H2O from the Inder Deposit, Kazakhstan, was re-investigated by a multi-methodological approach (single-crystal X-ray and neutron diffraction, electron probe micro-analysis in wavelength-dispersive mode, laser ablation multi-collector inductively mass spectrometry). The experimental findings show that the real chemical formula of inderborite from the Inder Deposit is virtually identical to the ideal one: the fraction of potential isomorphic substituents is insignificant. Boron is, therefore, the only industrially relevant element occurring in this mineral. The in situ B isotope composition of the Inder inderborite shows enrichment in the heavy 11B isotope, giving a weighted mean δ11BNIST951 of +35.15 ± 0.49 ‰ (2σ, N = 6). Such a positive δ11B value falls within the range of values in which the source of boron is ascribable to marine reservoirs rather than to terrestrial ones. X-ray (at 293 K) and neutron (at 20 K) structure refinements confirm that the principal building block unit of the structure is a [B3O3(OH)5]2– ring, consisting of two BO2(OH)2 tetrahedra (B-ion in sp3 electronic configuration) and one planar-triangular BO2OH group (B-ion in sp2 electronic configuration). In the [B3O3(OH)5]2– ring, all the oxygen atoms that are not shared between two boron atoms are protonated. The building units share corners with the CaO2(OH)4(OH2)2 polyhedra and Mg(OH)4(OH2)2 octahedra, forming hetero-polyhedral sheets parallel to (100). Subsequent hetero-polyhedral sheets are mutually connected only by H-bonding interactions, even mediated by the zeolitic ("interstitial") H2O molecules. Ten out of 11 independent oxygen sites in the structure of inderborite are involved in H-bonds as donors or acceptors, and this reflects the pervasive effect of the H-bonding network. The role played by the complex H-bond network is expected to be substantial on the stability of the crystalline edifice, having effects within the single hetero-polyhedral sheet, between subsequent sheets, and in the bonding with the interstitial zeolitic H2O molecules. Finally, the potential utilizations of inderborite, as a B-bearing mineral, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal expansion of four alkaline-earth borates, namely Ca3B2O6 (0D), CaB2O4 (1D), Sr3B14O24 (2D) and CaB4O7 (3D), has been studied by in situ high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction (HTXRD). Strong anisotropy of thermal expansion is observed for the structures of Ca3B2O6 (0D) and CaB2O4 (1D) built up from BO3 triangles only; these borates exhibit maximal expansion perpendicular to the BO3 plane, i.e., along the direction of weaker bonding in the crystal structure. Layered Sr3B14O24 (2D) and framework CaB4O7 (3D) built up from various B–O groups expand less anisotropically. The thermal properties of the studied compounds compared to the other alkaline-earth borates are summarized depending on the selected structural characteristics like anion dimensionality, residual charge per one polyhedron (BO3 BO4), cationic size and charge, and structural complexity. For the first time, these dependencies are established as an average for both types of polyhedra (triangle and tetrahedron) occurring in the same structure at the same time. The most common trends identified from these studies are as follows: (i) melting temperature decreases with the dimensionality of the borate polyanion, and more precisely, as the residual charge per one polyhedron (triangle or tetrahedron) decreases; (ii) volumetric expansion decreases while the degree of anisotropy increases weakly when the residual charge decreases; (iii) both trends (i) and (ii) are most steady within borates built by triangles only, while borates built by both triangles and tetrahedra show more scattered values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first chloroaluminoborate, CsAlB3O6Cl, with innovative AlO3Cl tetrahedra and a perfect planar arrangement of [B3O6] groups, was structurally designed and synthesized via chlorination of [AlO4] tetrahedra. Simultaneously, the smooth introduction of the [AlO3Cl] group into borates initiates the development of a chloroaluminoborate and greatly enriches the structural chemistry of aluminoborates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored dual precipitating reagents-assisted Ce-based deep blue-emitting borate and near-white oxide-based luminescent materials. The first precipitating reagent (aqueous sodium borohydride) was used until gelation. The second precipitating reagent (ammonia solution) was employed to prepare as-synthesized powders. XRD analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy of calcined powders ranging from 1000 °C to 1400 °C confirmed the development of a primary borate phase (i.e., nearly polyhedral-shaped YBO3) with secondary phases of (Y,Al)BO3 and oxide. However, the preliminary oxide phase (i.e., elongated/rod-like YAG) and secondary phases of YBO3, Al2O3, and CeO2 were developed at 1500 °C with different holding times. The emission behavior and CIE coordinates confirmed that the borate (i.e., YBO3-based) sample was deep blue. However, the oxide (i.e., YAG-based) sample showed tunable color emissions from light blue to near white with increased holding time. The average lifetime of prepared samples varied between 788 ns and 891 ns, which indicated a long decay time. The quantum yield of the sample calcined at 1400–1500 °C varied between ∼61% and ∼77%. Based on the emission behavior, CIE diagram, CCT, powder color, average lifetime, and quantum yield, the developed deep blue-emitting borate and light blue/near white oxide-based luminescent materials could be used in lighting industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resourceful and inexpensive seawater direct splitting omits the desalination process and effectively increases the efficiency of hydrogen energy generation. However, the development of seawater splitting is hampered by the competing selectivity challenges from anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and chlorine evolution reaction and the issues of electrode corrosion. Herein, the borate anion‐intercalated NiV‐LDH nanoflakes/NiCoP nanowires heterostructures supported on Ni foam (2D/1D NiV‐BLDH/NiCoP/NF) is synthesized. Theoretical calculations show that a small amount of V atom doping in Ni(OH)2 is favorable for changing the electronic environment around Ni atoms via bridging Ni─O, which can construct Ni─O─V to accelerate electron transfer and promote catalytic activity. The borate anions (B(OH)4−) intercalation not only results in the good hydrophilicity and high OH− selectivity but also weakens the adsorption of chlorine (Cl−), which effectively restrains the chlorine evolution reaction. Thus, the component optimized NiV0.1‐BLDH/NiCoP/NF electrocatalyst only requires 268 mV overpotential to reach 100 mA cm−2 for OER in an alkaline environment. Particularly, the NiCoP/NF||NiV0.1‐BLDH/NiCoP/NF cell exhibits attractive overall water splitting performance with a low voltage of 1.46 and 1.53 V at 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline freshwater and alkaline seawater, respectively. The design strategy of this electrocatalyst provides a new avenue for seawater splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The robust electronegativity of the [BO3]3− structure enables the extraction of electrons from adjacent metals, offering a strategy for modulating oxygen activation in propane oxidative dehydrogenation. Metals (Ni 1.91, Al 1.5, and Ca 1.0) with varying electronegativities were employed to engineer borate catalysts. Metals in borate lacked intrinsic catalytic activity for propane conversion; instead, they modulated [BO3]3− group reactivity through adjustments in electron density. Moderate metal electronegativity favored propane oxidative dehydrogenation to propylene, whereas excessively low electronegativity led to propane overoxidation to carbon dioxide. Aluminum, with moderate electronegativity, demonstrated optimal performance. Catalyst AlBOx-1000 achieved a propane conversion of 47.5%, with the highest propylene yield of 30.89% at 550 °C, and a total olefin yield of 51.51% with a 58.92% propane conversion at 575 °C. Furthermore, the stable borate structure prevents boron element loss in harsh conditions and holds promise for industrial-scale catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallocene catalysts have attracted much attention from academia and industry for their excellent catalytic activity in the field of olefin polymerization. Cocatalysts play a key role in metallocene catalytic systems, which can not only affect the overall catalytic activity, but also have an obvious influence on the structure and properties of the polymer. Although methylaluminoxane (MAO) is currently the most widely used cocatalyst, its price increases the production cost of polyolefin materials. Ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate has shown excellent performance in polymerization, being one of the best substitutes for the traditional cocatalyst MAO. Compared with the main catalyst, whose composition and structure are relatively complex, the research on cocatalyst is very limited. This review mainly introduces the research history, preparation methods, and application progress in polymerization of ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, deepening our understanding of the role of cocatalyst in polymerization, with the hope of inspiring brand-new thinking on improving and enhancing the overall performance of catalyst systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the important research components of photocatalytic research is the development of new photocatalysts, and recent studies have shown the rise of borate‐type photocatalysts. This paper focuses on the photoreduction of potassium dichromate and the photodegradation of rhodamine B by two borate composites under simulated sunlight. A coral‐like borate was obtained by sol‐gel preparation and then assembled by photodeposition with Pt nanoparticles dots or CuO particles to obtain the new composites with excellent performance. The kinetic constants of photocatalytic properties of 2 %Pt/Gd0.85Ce0.15B5O9 and 2.5 %CuO/Gd0.90Ce0.10B5O9 samples in the reduction and degradation reactions are 0.0050 min−1 and 0.0150 min−1, which are 25 and 4.2 times of the intrinsic GdB5O9 sample respectively. The results of the study indicate the research promise of developing new visible photocatalysts based on borates, especially for photocatalytic applications for pollutant removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the important research components of photocatalytic research is the development of new photocatalysts, and recent studies have shown the rise of borate‐type photocatalysts. This paper focuses on the photoreduction of potassium dichromate and the photodegradation of rhodamine B by two borate composites under simulated sunlight. A coral‐like borate was obtained by sol‐gel preparation and then assembled by photodeposition with Pt nanoparticles dots or CuO particles to obtain the new composites with excellent performance. The kinetic constants of photocatalytic properties of 2 %Pt/Gd0.85Ce0.15B5O9 and 2.5 %CuO/Gd0.90Ce0.10B5O9 samples in the reduction and degradation reactions are 0.0050 min−1 and 0.0150 min−1, which are 25 and 4.2 times of the intrinsic GdB5O9 sample respectively. The results of the study indicate the research promise of developing new visible photocatalysts based on borates, especially for photocatalytic applications for pollutant removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birefringent materials with high optical anisotropy have been identified as a research hotspot owing to their significant scientific and technological significance in modern optoelectronics for manipulating light polarization. Researchers studying borate systems have discovered that adding p-conjugated units placed in parallel can significantly increase the birefringence of crystalline solids; some examples include [BO3] units, [B2O5] units, and [B3O6] units. However, there are not many borates with strictly parallel configurations of p-conjugated [B2O5] units. In this study, a new bimetallic borate Sr2Cd4(B2O5)3 with near-parallel arrangement of p-conjugated [B2O5] units was discovered. Sr2Cd4(B2O5)3 possesses the maximum number density of [B2O5] units, shortest dihedral angle of [B2O5] units (between the two [BO3]), and largest degree of [CdO6] octahedral distortion among all the currently known Sr-Cd-B-O tetragonal system borates, making it demonstrate a large birefringence of 0.102 at 532 nm. Theoretical analysis proves that p-conjugated [B2O5] anions are the primary source of the large birefringence of Sr2Cd4(B2O5)3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renormalization of the electric permittivity of rare-earth aluminium borates is studied theoretically from the first principles. It is shown how the electric permittivity depends on the external magnetic field and temperature for several compounds of rare-earth ions of that class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal chemistry of inderite, a hydrous borate with known ideal formula MgB3O3(OH)5·5H2O from the Kramer deposit, was re-investigated by electron probe micro-analysis in wavelength dispersive mode, laser ablation-(multi collector-)inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and single-crystal neutron diffraction. The chemical data prove that the real composition of the investigated inderite is substantially identical to the ideal one, with insignificant content of potential isomorphic substituents, so that, excluding B, inderite does not contain any other industrially-relevant element (e.g., Li concentration is lower than 2.5 wt ppm, Be or REE lower than 0.1 wt ppm). The average δ11BNIST951 value of ca. − 7 ‰ lies within the range of values in which the source of boron is ascribable to terrestrial reservoirs (e.g., hydrothermal brines), rather than to marine ones. Neutron structure refinements, at both 280 and 10 K, confirm that the building units of the structure of inderite consist of: two BO2(OH)2 tetrahedra (B-ion in sp3 electronic configuration) and one BO2(OH) triangle (B-ion in sp2 electronic configuration), linked by corner-sharing to form a (soroborate) B3O3(OH)5 ring, and a Mg-octahedron Mg(OH)2(OH2)4. The B3O3(OH)5 ring and the Mg-octahedron are connected, by corner-sharing, to form an isolated Mg(H2O)4B3O3(OH)5 (molecular) cluster. The tri-dimensional edifice of inderite is therefore built by heteropolyhedral Mg(H2O)4B3O3(OH)5 clusters mutually connected by H-bonds, mediated by the zeolitic (“interstitial”) H2O molecules lying between the clusters, so that the correct form of the chemical formula of inderite is Mg[B3O3(OH)5](H2O)4·H2O, rather than MgB3O3(OH)5·5H2O. All the thirteen independent oxygen sites of the structure are involved in H-bonding, as donors or as acceptors. This confirms the pervasive nature and the important role played by the H-bonding network on the structural stability of inderite. The differences between the crystal structure of the two dimorphs inderite and kurnakovite are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new noncentrosymmetric strontium borate, P1‐Sr2[B5O8(OH)]2 ⋅ [B(OH)3] ⋅ H2O (1), has been synthesized under the hydrothermal condition. The P1‐Sr2[B5O8(OH)]2 ⋅ [B(OH)3] ⋅ H2O shows a layered B−O network with 9‐ring windows in the ab plane. Sr2+ cations, H3BO3, and H2O molecules are located in the voids of layers and interlayers, respectively. The P1‐Sr2[B5O8(OH)]2 ⋅ [B(OH)3] ⋅ H2O is the first synthetic phase of veatchite, while the other three polymorphs are found in different natural minerals. This strontium borate is a potential deep‐ultraviolet‐transparent nonlinear‐optical (NLO) crystal whose second‐harmonic‐generation (SHG) intensity is 1.7 times that of KH2PO4 (KDP) and is phase‐matchable. The short wavelength cutoff edge of compound 1 is below 190 nm. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the B−O units are responsible for the nonlinear optical property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First examples of diborane(6) dianions decorated with weakly coordination B(C6F5)3 (BCF) groups and SiEt3+ moieties have been synthesized demonstrating the synthetic potential of the [B2(CN)6]2− dianion. [B2{CNB(C6F5)3}6]2− (1) was isolated as potassium and tetrabutylammonium salt. 1 is a rare example for a weakly coordinating dianion and it was used for the stabilization of the carbocation [Ph3C]+ and the oxonium acid [H(OEt2)2]+. Reaction of [Ph3C]21 with HSiEt3 resulted in the silylated neutral diborane(6) [B2{CNB(C6F5)3}4(CNSiEt3)2] (2) in which two BCF groups have been selectively replaced by SiEt3+ substituents, underscoring the stability and chemical versatility of the [B2(CN)6]2− dianion. The chemical properties and physicochemical data of 1 and 2 provide insight into electronic, coordinating, and steric properties of theses novel diborane(6) compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total syntheses of borolithochromes A, D and G, red pigments isolated from fossils of Jurassic putative red alga Solenopora jurassica, have been achieved. The benzo[gh]tetraphene skeletons of the borate ligands in these substances were constructed using Diels–Alder reactions of aryl dienes with naphthoquinone, followed by intramolecular Corey–Chaykovsky reactions. Complexation of these ligands with trimethyl borate generated homocomplexes, which upon sequential O‐demethylation produced borolithochromes A and G. In the route to borolithochrome D, a heterocomplex was prepared by stepwise complexation of the ligands with 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl dimethyl borate. The strategy devised to accomplish the first total synthesis of borolithochromes A, D and G should be applicable to the preparation of other borolithochromes as well as spiroborates possessing two fused polycyclic aromatic ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrolyte concentration not only impacts the battery performance but also affects the battery cost and manufacturing. Currently, most studies focus on high‐concentration (>3 M) or localized high‐concentration electrolytes (~1 M); however, the expensive lithium salt imposes a major concern. Most recently, ultralow concentration electrolytes (<0.3 M) have emerged as intriguing alternatives for battery applications, which feature low cost, low viscosity, and extreme‐temperature operation. However, at such an early development stage, many works are urgently needed to further understand the electrolyte properties. Herein, we introduce an ultralow concentration electrolyte of 2 wt % (0.16 M) lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) in standard carbonate solvents. This electrolyte exhibits a record‐low salt/solvent mass ratio reported to date, thus pointing to a superior low cost. Furthermore, this electrolyte is highly compatible with commercial Li‐ion materials, forming stable and inorganic‐rich interphases on the lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) cathode and graphite anode. Consequently, the LiCoO2‐graphite full cell demonstrates excellent cycling performance. Besides, this electrolyte is moisture‐resistant and effectively suppresses the generation of hydrogen fluoride, which will markedly facilitate the battery assembly and recycling process under ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phosphorescence of boric acid (BA, H3BO3) at room temperature is a puzzling phenomenon subject to controversial interpretations although the role of structural defects has not yet been considered. Heat treatments of boric acid cause its transformation into the metaboric phase and amorphous boron oxide (B2O3). The structural changes after thermal processing can create defects that become centers of luminescence and recombination channels in the visible range. In the present work, commercial boric acid is thermally processed at different temperatures. Samples treated between 200 and 400 °C exhibit remarkable phosphorescence in the visible range. At ≈480 and 528 nm, two distinct phosphorescent emissions occur, associated with trapped charge carriers recombinations identified by thermoluminescence (TL) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). The structural and optical studies suggest that the activation of boric acid phosphorescence after heat treatment is correlated with the presence of defects. The afterglow results from a trapping and detrapping process, which delays the recombination at the active optical centers. Time‐dependent density functional study (DFT) of defective BOH molecules and clusters shows the emergence of near UV and blue optical transitions in absorption. These defects trigger the photoluminescence in thermally processed boric acid samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs a systematic and predictive modelling approach to investigate the structure and properties of multi-component borate glasses. In particular, this work is focused on understanding the individual and interaction effects of multiple constituents on several material properties. By leveraging advanced modeling techniques, this work examines how the inclusion and variation of B2O3, CaF2, TiO2, ZnO, and Na2CO3 influence the glass network, with particular attention to modifier fractions ≥ 30 mol%. This research addresses the gap in knowledge regarding the complex behavior of borate glasses in this high modifier fraction range, known as the borate anomaly, where prediction of glass structure and properties becomes particularly challenging. The use of a design of mixtures (DoM) approach facilitated the generation of polynomial equations indicating the influence of mixture components on various responses, enabling the prediction and optimization of glass properties over broad compositional ranges despite being within the anomalous region. This methodical approach not only advances our understanding of borate glass systems but also underscores the importance of predictive modelling in the accelerated design and development of novel glass materials for diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical molecular dynamics (CMD) simulations that employ analytical force fields have been commonly utilized to investigate mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties of oxide glasses owing to their superior computational efficiency. Conversely, simple functional forms limit the accuracy in modeling complicated glass structures, specifically, in alkaline borate glasses, which exhibit boron coordination numbers that vary nonlinearly with changes in glass composition and temperature. Machine‐learning potentials (MLPs), which are trained using datasets on energy and force evaluated via the density functional theory (DFT), are garnering significant attention as a novel simulation technology for enhancing the accuracy in modeling materials. Therefore, this study applied a universal MLP, PreFerred Potential (PFP) (trade‐name: Matlantis), to model sodium borate glasses, and its accuracy was verified in reproducing boron coordination and ring structures by comparing its results to available experimental data. We found that PFP can quantitatively reproduce the boron coordination change with glass composition without any empirical correction, while the boron coordination in the melts at high temperatures is overestimated, even though the qualitative variation was better estimated than CMD simulations. Furthermore, the MLP could generate many 3‐rings, unlike the analytical force‐field. Accordingly, we demonstrated superior accuracy of the MLP in modeling alkaline borate glasses, while discussing the challenges faced in reproducing the elaborated microstructures in borate glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of Na[BArF24] (BArF24 = tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate) to [Pd(PP)Cl2] (PP = 1,1′-bis(phosphino)ferrocene ligands) compounds results in the loss of a chloride ligand and the formation of the dimeric species [Pd2(PP)2(μ-Cl)2][BArF24]2. In most cases, the addition of a monodentate phosphine, PR3, to these dimeric species leads to cleaving of the dimer and formation of [Pd(PP)(PR3)Cl][BArF24]. While these reactions are readily observed via a significant color change, the 31P{1H} NMR spectra offer more significant support, as the singlet for the dimer is replaced with three doublets of doublets. The reaction seems to take place for a wide range of PR3 ligands, although there do appear to be steric limitations to the reaction. The compounds were thoroughly characterized by NMR, and X-ray crystal structures of several of the compounds were obtained. In addition, the ferrocenyl backbone of the 1,1′-bis(phosphino)ferrocene ligands provides an opportunity to examine the oxidative electrochemistry of these compounds. In general, the potential at which oxidations of these compounds occurs shows a dependence on the phosphine substituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordination of hydrotris[3‐(2‐furyl)pyrazol‐1‐yl]borate (Tp2‐Fu, C21H16BN6O3) to lanthanide(III) ions is achieved for the first time with the complex [Ln(Tp2‐Fu)2](BPh4)·xCH2Cl2 (1‐Ln has Ln = Ce and x = 2; 1‐Dy has Ln = Dy and x = 1). This was accomplished via both hydrous (Ln = Ce) and anhydrous methods (Ln = Dy). When isolating the dysprosium analogue, the filtrate produced a second crop of crystals which were revealed to be the 1,2‐borotropic‐shifted product [Dy(κ4‐Tp2‐Fu)(κ5‐Tp2‐Fu*)](BPh4) (2) {Tp2‐Fu* = hydrobis[3‐(2‐furyl)pyrazol‐1‐yl][5‐(2‐furyl)pyrazol‐1‐yl]borate}. We conclude that the presence of a strong Lewis acid and a sterically crowded coordination environment are contributing factors for the 1,2‐borotropic shifting of scorpionate ligands in conjunction with the size of the conical angle with the scorpionate ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the synthesis and luminescent spectra of rare-earth (RE)-doped aluminum and lanthanum borates intended to serve as narrow excitation–emission band fluorescent markers. We perform a detailed 3D excitation–emission matrix (EEM) analysis of their spectra, compare the measurements from both standard and mobile phone spectrometers, and outline the basic differences and advantages of each method. While smartphones have a different and non-uniform spectral response compared to standard spectrometers, it is shown that they offer a number of advantages such as contactless interrogation, efficient suppression of the UV excitation light, and simultaneous spectral analysis of spatially arranged arrays of fluorescent markers. The basic emission peaks have been observed and their corresponding electronic transitions identified. The obtained results show that the rare-earth-doped La and Al borates feature excitation–emission bandwidths as low 15 nm/12 nm, which makes them particularly appropriate for use as luminescent markers with UV LED excitation and smartphone interrogation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion of solid boric acid (s-BA) has so far remained unnoticed, which could pose a potential hazard to the safety of boron-containing equipment. In this work, a morphology-dependent corrosion behavior of s-BA was found on Q235 carbon steel encompassing temperatures from 160 °C to 240 °C. Concurrent with the corrosion process, s-BA underwent a heat-induced morphology-transition from block-like into sheet-like/flake-like under the delayed decomposition condition, which emerged as a key contributor to the heightened corrosion rates after reducing the volume of the corrosion system. Through integration with the ex-situ pretreatment experiment, our analysis concludes that this morphology-transition accelerated corrosion by facilitating the generation of more Fe5O5[B6O10(OH)3] ·nH2O and filamentous amorphous corrosion products than FeB12O19·5H2O. The crucial relationship between s-BA with distinct morphologies and different types of borate products was also further expounded.

An undoped and a series of orange-red emitting LiCaBO3:Sm3+ (x = 0.5–3 mol%) phosphors have been synthesized using a highly reliable and cost-effective combustion method. The synthesized phosphors were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and Diffuse Reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The structural studies of the LiCaBO3:Sm3+phosphor confirm the single-phase orthorhombic structure with space group Pbca and the presence of borate anionic groups. Upon near-UV excitation at 405 nm, the PL emission spectra show four emission peaks centered at 564 nm, 602 nm, 650 nm, and 708 nm corresponding to the 4G5/2 → 6H5/2, 4G5/2 → 6H7/2, 4G5/2 → 6H9/2 and 4G5/2 → 6H11/2 transitions respectively resulting in the emission of orange-red light. The optimum dopant concentration of Sm3+ion was 1 mol% and the main mechanism of concentration quenching was calculated using Dexter's theory. The bandgap of the undoped phosphor was found to be 5.31 eV. The CIE chromaticity coordinates are (0.56, 0.40) which confirms the orange-red emission. The obtained results indicate that the synthesized phosphor can be a potential candidate for application in solid-state lighting devices.

YGa3(BO3)4 single crystals were grown from a K2Mo3O10-based flux, and also RGa3(BO3)4 (R = Y, Pr–Yb) spontaneous crystals (RGB) were obtained by a high-temperature flux growth technique from a complex R2O3–Bi2O3–B2O3–Ga2O3 solvent. A number of gallium orthoborates, including new ones (PrGa3(BO3)4, TmGa3(BO3)4), were obtained under identical conditions, their stability was determined, and their morphological features were shown. The crystal structure was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and their unit cell parameters were calculated. The micromorphology of the crystals was examined by the SEM method. Differential thermal analysis measurements show that RGa3(BO3)4 (R = Y, Pr–Yb) is an incongruently melting compound with temperatures varying with the rare earth cation type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two templated borates, [Co(1-EI)2]·[B5O7(OH)3] (1) and [Ga(1-MI)2·B6O9(OH)4]·[H3BO3]·H[1-MI] (2), have been synthesized using a mild method. Notably, they exhibit an excellent ORR performance with an E1/2 value of 0.84 V and are the first to be used as the positive electrode catalyst for a zinc–air battery, which opens a pathway for the application of borate-based oxide catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]