Structural characterization of heterogeneous RhAu nanoparticles from a microwave-assisted synthesis.

A microwave assisted method was used to synthesize RhAu nanoparticles (NPs). Characterization, based upon transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction, provided the evidence of monomodal alloy NPs with a mean size distribution between 3 and 5 nm, depending upon the composition. Extended X-ray adsorption fine-structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) also showed evidence of alloying, but the coordination numbers of Rh and Au indicated significant segregation between the metals. More problematic were the low coordination numbers for Rh; values of ca. 9 indicate NPs smaller than 2 nm, significantly smaller than those observed with TEM. Additionally, no single-particle structural models were able to reproduce the experimental EXAFS data. Resolution of this discrepancy was achieved with high resolution aberration corrected scanning TEM imaging which showed the presence of ultra-small (<2 nm) pure Rh clusters and larger (∼3-5 nm) segregated particles with Au-rich cores and Rh-decorated shells. A heterogeneous model with a mixture of ultrasmall pure Rh clusters and larger segregated Rh/Au NPs was able to explain the experimental measurements of the NPs over the range of compositions measured. The combination of density functional theory, EXAFS, and TEM allowed us to quantify the heterogeneity in the RhAu NPs. It was only through this combination of theoretical and experimental techniques that resulted in a bimodal distribution of particle sizes that was able to explain all of the experimental characterization data.

Highly selective room temperature acetylene sorption by an unusual triacetylenic phosphine MOF.

The new ligand tris(p-carboxyphenylethynyl)phosphine (P{C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC6H4-4-CO2H}3) was used to synthesize a permanently porous Mn(ii)-based acetylenic phosphine coordination material, PCM-48. This triply-interpenetrated MOF contains 1-D microchannels that are decorated with electron-rich and adsorbate-accessible acetylenic moieties and phosphine lone pairs. PCM-48 has a moderate room-temperature C2H2 adsorption capacity (25.54 cm3 g-1) and displays high separation selectivities for C2H2 over CH4 (C2H2/CH4 = 23.3), CO2 (C2H2/CO2 = 4.3), and N2 (C2H2/N2 = 76.9) at 296 K.

Organoarsine Metal-Organic Framework with cis-Diarsine Pockets for the Installation of Uniquely Confined Metal Complexes.

ACM-1 is the first example of an organoarsine metal-organic framework (MOF), prepared using a new pyridyl-functionalized triarylarsine ligand coordinated to Ni(II) nodes. ACM-1 has micropores that are decorated with cis-diarsine coordination pockets. Postsynthetic metalation of ACM-1 with AuCl under facile conditions studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals the installation of dimeric Au2Cl2 complexes via the formation of As-Au bonds. The Au(I) dimers display exceptionally short aurophilic bonds (2.76 Å) induced by the rigidity of the MOF, which acts as a unique solid-state ligand.

A Metal-Organic Framework with Cooperative Phosphines That Permit Post-Synthetic Installation of Open Metal Sites.

PCM-101 is a phosphine coordination material comprised of tris(p-carboxylato)triphenylphosphine and secondary pillaring groups coordinated to [M3 (OH)]5+ nodes (M=Co, Ni). PCM-101 has a unique topology in which R3 P: sites are arranged directly trans to one another, with a P⋅⋅⋅P separation distance dictated by the pillars. Post-synthetic coordination of soft metals to the P: sites proceeds at room temperature to provide X-ray quality crystals that permit full structural resolution. Addition of AuCl groups forces a large distortion of the parent framework. In contrast, CuBr undergoes insertion directly between the trans-P sites to form dimers that mimic solution-phase complexes, but that are geometrically strained due to steric pressure exerted by the MOF scaffold. The metalated materials are active in heterogeneous hydroaddition catalysis under mild conditions, yielding different major products compared to their molecular counterparts.

Optothermophoretic Manipulation of Colloidal Particles in Nonionic Liquids.

The response of colloidal particles to a light-controlled external temperature field can be harnessed for opto-thermophoretic manipulation of the particles. The thermoelectric effect is regarded as the driving force for thermophoretic trapping of particles at the light-irradiated hot region, which is thus limited to ionic liquids. Herein, we achieve opto-thermophoretic manipulation of colloidal particles in various non-ionic liquids, including water, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and 1-butanol, and establish the physical mechanism of the manipulation at the molecular level. We reveal that the non-ionic driving force originates from a layered structure of solvent molecules at the particle-solvent interface, which is supported by molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, the effects of hydrophilicity, solvent type, and ionic strength on the layered interfacial structures and thus the trapping stability of particles are investigated, providing molecular-level insight into thermophoresis and guidance on interfacial engineering for optothermal manipulation.