Construction and screening of spin-crossover-sponge materials based on iron(II)-triazole coordination polymers.

Iron(II)-triazole coordination polymers have attracted considerable interest for their synthetic versatility, which allows tuning their spin-crossover (SCO) properties. Embedding SCO solid particles in sponge matrices is a simple, powerful, and generic approach to construct processable SCO materials. Here, we have studied a series of magnetic frameworks based on partial ligand substitution by using different chemical mixtures of two organic ligands, yielding four isostructural coordination polymers. The integration of the hygroscopic SCO material has endowed the composite sponge with the ability to capture moisture under ambient conditions. In particular, not only does a spin-crossover transition during absorption occur, but also a color variation has been achieved by varying humidity. The consequences of cooperativity and the exposed surface of the composite sponge on the spin transition were evaluated and the most promising materials among them were screened. This work provides guiding significance for the fabrication and practical application of spin-crossover-sponge materials.

Porous Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate as a Low-Cost Nano-Platform for Ultra-High CO2 Capture and Storage.

CO2 capture and storage have been regarded as promising concepts to reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions. However, the high cost, inferior adsorption capacity, and higher effective activation temperature of traditional sorbents limit their practical application in efficient CO2 capture. Here, a C-S-H@ZIF-8 (C-S-Z) sorbent is fabricated by in situ growth of the ZIF-8 shell on the C-S-H (calcium-silicate-hydrate) surface for ultra-high CO2 adsorption and storage. Among the C-S-Z, the outer ZIF-8 shell acts as a transport channel that promotes CO2 absorption toward the underlying C-S-H substrate for accelerated carbonation while preventing nitrogen and water from reaching the interior C-S-H. As a consequence, C-S-Z possesses the merits of ample pyrrolic nitrogen, porous structure, and ultra-high surface area (577.18 m2  g-1 ), that contribute to an ultra-high CO2 capture capacity, reaching 293.6 mg g-1 . DFT calculations show a high CO2 adsorption energy and the mineral carbonation is dominant by the adsorption process. In particular, the advantages of the outstanding adsorption capacity, low cost, and high CO2 selectivity make this C-S-H-based sorbent hold great potential in the practical application for direct air CO2 capture and storage.

Dynamic Aggregation Triggering Reversible Spin-State Switching.

The manipulation of spin-state switching (SSS) under ambient conditions is of significant importance for the construction of molecular switches. Herein, we demonstrate that reversible SSS can be mediated by the aggregation state of a near-infrared (NIR)-sensitive ferrous complex. The ferrous complex was J-aggregated in a DMF suspension and with a low-spin (LS) state; however, with the addition of water, it changed to H-aggregation and reached a high-spin (HS) state, owing to the enhanced intramolecular charge transfer and metal-to-ligand charge transfer. Interestingly, the following NIR irradiation can restore the J-aggregation and LS states owing to the enhanced ligand-to-ligand charge transfer. More interestingly, the ferrous complex can be further incorporated into a hygroscopic sponge that was capable of capturing humidity effectively for all weather conditions, which displayed reversible SSS via alternating atmospheric humidity capture and NIR irradiation under ambient conditions in the sponge state. This study thus opens up a new avenue for the development of novel smart molecular switches at the device level.

2D hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks: in-site generation and subsequent exfoliation.

By using in-site generated formate, 2D HOFs of TCPP, with excellent stability and permanent porosity (BET surface area larger than 560 m2 g-1), have been obtained. The constructed 2D square-like TCPP-HCO2 grid sheets have shown considerable in-plane stability that comparable to the TCPP-based 2D MOFs, that can be exfoliated into atomically thin 2D nanosheets with efficient photocatalytic activity in aqueous system. These results are expected to shed light on the application-orientated one-pot synthesis for new kinds of multi-dimensional HOFs.

Build 3D Nanoparticles by Using Ultrathin 2D MOF Nanosheets for NIR Light-Triggered Molecular Switching.

The coordination interactions between transition-metal ions (Cu2+, Ag+) and sulfur atoms on ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets of spin-crossover (SCO) metal-organic frameworks {[Fe(1,3-bpp)2(NCS)2]2}n (1,3-bpp = 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane), which constructed the ultrathin 2D nanosheets into three-dimensional (3D) nanoparticles, have made a profound effect on the SCO performance. Compared with 2D nanosheets, both the intraligand π-π* transition band and the metal-to-ligand charge transition band from the d(Fe) + π(NCS) to π*(1,3-bpp), for the 3D nanoparticles, have shown dramatic blue-shifts; meanwhile, the d-d transition band for the high-spin (HS) state Fe(II) ions has been generated, suggesting significantly the influence of 3D assemble-caused dimensional changes on the solid-state SCO performance of ultrathin 2D nanosheets. More importantly, by loading on the ytterbium ion (Yb3+)-sensitized hexagonal phase upconverting nanoparticles in the aqueous colloidal suspension, the near infrared (NIR) light (980 nm) triggered HS (high spin) to LS (low spin) state transitions have been observed, demonstrating the achievement of challenging target of NIR light-triggered molecular conversion under environment conditions.

Unraveling the Mechanisms of the Excited-State Intermolecular Proton Transfer (ESPT) for a D-π-A Molecular Architecture.

Precise revealing the mechanisms of excited-state intermolecular proton transfer (ESPT) and the corresponding geometrical relaxation upon photoexcitation and photoionization remains a formidable challenge. In this work, the compound (E)-4-(((4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)imino)methyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenol (TIMDP) adopting a D-π-A molecular architecture featuring a significant intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect has been designed. With the presence of perchloric acid (35 %), TIMDP can be dissolved through the formation of a HClO4 -H2 O-OH(TIMDP)-N(TIMDP) hydrogen-bonding bridge. At the ground state, the ICT effect is dominant, giving birth to crystals of TIMDP. Upon external stimuli (e.g., UV light irradiation, electro field), the excited state is achieved, which weakens the ICT effect, and significantly promotes the ESPT effect along the hydrogen-bonding bridge, resulting in crystals of [HTIMDP]+ ⋅[H2 O]⋅[ClO4 ]- . As a consequence, the mechanisms of the ESPT can be investigated, which distorted the D-π-A molecular architecture, tuned the emission color with the largest Stokes shift of 242 nm, and finally, high photoluminescence quantum yields (12 %) and long fluorescence lifetimes (8.6 µs) have achieved. These results not only provide new insight into ESPT mechanisms, but also open a new avenue for the design of efficient ESPT emitters.

Porous High-Valence Metal-Organic Framework Featuring Open Coordination Sites for Effective Water Adsorption.

The design and preparation of a porous high-valence metal-organic framework (MOF) featuring open coordination sites are of utmost importance for the development of adsorbent materials. Here in this work, the three-dimensional (3D) high-valence MOF [Er(dcbp)3/2(DMF)(H2O)2]·2H2O (HV-MOF-1; H2dcbp = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide), which possesses permanent porosity and two open coordination sites, has been prepared and characterized. In the 3D framework, the dcbp molecules display two different bridging styles, resulting in ordered diamondlike pores with bared carboxyl oxygen and pyridine nitrogen atoms on dcbp exposed directly to the pores, generating hydrophilic characteristics and high water affinity. In addition, the open coordination sites act as arms to fix the adsorbed water molecules, providing high water adsorption capacity (5.95 mmol g-1) and selectivity. More importantly, the activated HV-MOF-1 species shows an energy-saving step for recycling (operation under 120 °C), demonstrating promise as a candidate for an adsorbent material with considerable water adsorption-desorption cycles.

Ultralarge Dielectric Relaxation and Self-Recovery Triggered by Hydrogen-Bonded Polar Components.

Subtle integration of rotatable polar components into dielectric crystals can contribute significantly to adjustable switching temperatures ( Ts) and dielectric relaxation behaviors. Currently, one of the biggest challenges lies in the design of optimal polar components with moderate motion resistance in a crystalline system. In this work, we demonstrate that under refrigerator conditions, rotatable hydrogen-bonded one-dimensional (1D) cationic chains, {[C2H6N5]+} n (C2H6N5 = 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazolinium), and two-dimensional (2D) anionic layers, {[(H2O)2·SO4]2-} n, can be generated in an organic salt, 3 ([C2H6N5]2·[(H2O)2·SO4]). Compared with the nonhydrated precursor, 2 ([C2H7N5]·[SO4]), the rotation of these 1D and 2D ionic species triggers a reversible phase transition and dielectric switching in 3. In addition, the significantly sluggish rotation of the 1D cationic chains from parallel to unparallel stacking and the counter-clockwise rotation of the 2D anionic layers, compared with their reverse processes, induce a frequency-dependent dielectric response with a more highly adjustable heating Ts↑ than the cooling Ts↓. More importantly, 3 possesses excellent self-recovery ability attributed to the highly dynamic character of the hydrogen-bonded ionic species. The strategy here can provide a fairly good model for designing dielectric crystals with desired rotatable polar components.

Atomically Thin Two-Dimensional Nanosheets with Tunable Spin-Crossover Properties.

Combining the fascinating advantages of ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets with the nanostructuration of spin-crossover (SCO) materials represents an attractive target of controlled fabrication of SCO nano-objects at the device level. Here, we demonstrate that through facile-operating ultrasonic force-assisted liquid exfoliation technology the three-dimensional (3D) van der Waals SCO bulk precursor {[Fe(1,3-bpp)2(NCS)2]2 (1, 1,3-bpp = 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)-propane)} can be exfoliated into single-layered 2D nanosheets (NS-1). As a consequence, the magnetism has been tuned from complete paramagnetic (bulk precursors) to SCO transition at around 250 K (2D nanosheets). In addition, the metal-to-ligand charge transition (MLCT), the intraligand π-π* transition and the color display also have been altered both in colloidal suspension and in the solid state. These dramatic changes of physical-chemical properties at different forms and states can be attributed to the efficient cooperativity derived from the interlayer van der Waals interactions within the curly or vertically stacked 2D building blocks.

Single-Layered Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets as an in Situ Visual Test Paper for Solvents.

Through a facile-operating ultrasonic force-assisted liquid exfoliation technology, the single-layered two-dimensional (2D) [Co(CNS)2(pyz)2] n (pyz = pyrazine) nanosheets, with a thickness of sub-1.0 nm, have been prepared from the bulk precursors. The atomically thickness and the presence of abundant sulfur atoms with high electronegativity arrayed on the double surfaces of the sheets are making this kind of 2D MOF (metal-organic framework) nanosheets highly sensitive to intermolecular interactions. As a result, it can be well dispersed in all kinds of solvents to give a stable colloidal suspension that can be maintained for at least one month, accompanied by significant solvatochromic behavior and various optical properties, which thus have shown the potential to be practically applicated as in situ visual test paper for solvent identification and solvent polarity measurements. More importantly, combined with a smartphone, this kind of 2D-MOF nanosheets can be developed into in situ visual test paper to identify isomers and determine the polarity of mixed solvents quantitatively and qualitatively, suggesting the promising application of a portable, economical, and in situ visual test strategy in real world.

Bidirectional Photoswitching via Alternating NIR and UV Irradiation on a Core-Shell UCNP-SCO Nanosphere.

Bidirectional photoswitching of molecular materials under ambient condition is of significant importance. Herein, we present for the first time that a core-shell UCNP-SCO nanosphere (UCNP = upconversion nanophosphor, SCO = spin crossover), which was composed of a UCNP core (NaYF4: 20 mol % Yb3+, 1 mol % Er3+) and an SCO iron(II) shell ([Fe(H2Bpz)2(bipy-COOH)], H2Bpz = dihydrobis(1-pyrazolyl)borate, bipy-COOH = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine), can be reversibly photoswitched between the high-spin and low-spin states at room temperature in the solid state, via alternating irradiation with near-infrared (λ = 980 nm) and ultraviolet (λ = 310 nm) light. What's more, this reversible spin-state switching was accompanied by a variation of fluorescent spectrum and dielectric constants. The strategy here, that is, integrating the SCO iron(II) complex into a UCNP-SCO nanosphere for molecular photoswitching, may open a new area in the development of photocontrolled molecular devices.

Thermal-Induced Dielectric Switching with 40K Wide Hysteresis Loop Near Room Temperature.

A thermal-induced dielectric switching has been realized in two ion-pair crystal [C2H6N5]+·[H2PO4]- (1, C2H6N5 = 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazolinium) through single-crystal-to-single-crystal phase transition (SCSC-PT). Upon cooling from room temperature, the 1D cation stripes that are composed of [C2H5N5]+ cations have undergone a 90° sharp rotation around the c axis, accompanied by the transition of crystal stacking from loose unparallel (dynamic state) to compression parallel (static state) and reorientation of dipoles on the [C2H5N5]+ cation, which thus resulted in high dielectric state to low dielectric state transformation. While on the warming run, the reverse process was rather sluggish, resulting in a reversible dielectric switching with ultralarge (about 40K wide) hysteresis loop near room temperature. It is thought that the large-sized polar cation stripes have a predominant influence on the switching properties of 1.

Binding CO2 from Air by a Bulky Organometallic Cation Containing Primary Amines.

The organometallic cation 1 (Fe(bipy-NH2)32+, bipy-NH2 = 4,4'-diamino-2,2'-bipyridine), which was constructed in situ in solution, can bind CO2 from air effectively with a stoichiometric ratio of 1:4 (1/CO2), through the formation of "H-bonded CO2" species: [CO2-OH-CO2]- and [CO2-CO2-OH]-. These two species, along with the captured individual CO2 molecules, connected 1 into a novel 3D (three-dimensional) architecture, that was crystal 1·2(OH-)·4(CO2). The adsorption isotherms, recycling investigations, and the heat capacity of 1 have been investigated; the results revealed that the organometallic cation 1 can be recycled at least 10 times for the real-world CO2 capture applications. The strategies presented here may provide new hints for the development of new alkanolamine-related absorbents or technologies for CO2 capture and sequestration.

Ambient-Temperature Spin-State Switching Achieved by Protonation of the Amino Group in [Fe(H2Bpz2)2(bipy-NH2)].

Magnetism of a complex [Fe(H2Bpz2)2(bipy-NH2)] (H2Bpz2 = dihydrobis(1-pyrazolyl)borate, bipy-NH2 = 4,4'-diamino-2,2'-bipyridine) has been altered from paramagnetic to spin-crossover (SCO) behavior, through protonation of one amino group of bipy-NH2 with CF3SO3H. Complete SCO transition, both in solid state and in solution, occurs at ambient temperature.

Complexation of different transition metals with 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine: Crystal structure, UV spectra and Hirshfeld surfaces.

Four new complexes, [Co(dmbpy)2(dca)2]·CH3OH (1), [Ni(dmbpy)2(dca)2]·CH3OH (2), [Zn(dmbpy)2(dca)2]·(3) and [Cu(dmbpy)2(OH)2]·5H2O (4) (dca=dicyanamide), derived from 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dmbpy) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, TGA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surfaces analysis revealed that the complexes 1-3 were mainly supported by OH⋯N, CH⋯N and π⋯π intermolecular interactions, and for complex 4, the uncoordinated water molecules play a key role in the construction of the 3D stacking motif. UV spectrum measurements demonstrate that all of the complexes show typical metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption bands between 301 and 306nm. Moreover, after complexation, the absorption maximum bands about intraligand π→π* transitions similarly show slightly red shift compared to dmbpy ligand, consisting with the DFT calculations.

Lattice water molecules tuned spin-crossover for an iron(II) complex with thermal hysteresis.

A new iron(II) complex based on the 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine ligand [Fe(4,4'-dmbpy)3(ClO4)(SCN)·3H2O (1·3H2O)] has been prepared and characterized. Structural studies and Hirshfeld surface analysis for complex 1·3H2O at three different temperatures (300, 240 and 130 K) are described. The UV-vis absorption spectrum of a water-free sample (1) in methanol solution and magnetic susceptibility measurements for solid-state samples 1·3H2O and 1 revealed that the removal of lattice water molecules from complex 1·3H2O changed the magnetic properties from the low-spin state (1·3H2O) to the complete spin-crossover (1) between 350-220 K with a thermal hysteresis of 7 K, and was accompanied by a colour change from brown to red.

Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surfaces and DNA cleavage investigation of two copper(II) complexes containing polypyridine and salicylide ligands.

Two copper complexes 1 [Cu2(phen)2(salicylaldehyde)2(ClO4)2] and 2 [Cu2 (2,2'-dipyridyl)2(salicylaldehyde)2(ClO4)2] have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These two complexes were display binuclear structure with Cu(II) ions in distorted octahedral environment but antipodal orientation of the binuclear units between them. Molecular Hirshfeld surfaces revealed that the crystal structures of 1 and 2 were supported mainly by H-H, C-H⋯π, π⋯π (C-C), and C-H⋯O intermolecular interactions. DNA cleavage experiments of complexes 1 and 2 revealed that these complexes can intercalation with DNA.

Co-crystallization of pyridine-2-carboxamide with a series of alkyl dicarboxylic acids with different carbon chain: crystal structure, spectroscopy and Hirshfeld analysis.

Three new co-crystals: pyridine-2-carboxamide-succinic acid (1), pyridine-2-carboxamide-glutaric acid (2) and pyridine-2-carboxamide-adipic acid (3) have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, TGA/DSC measurements, solid-state vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman) in this work. The investigation revealed that the carbon chain length of these alkyl acids changed the connecting motif of co-crystals 1-3 from trimer to 1D chain, and the formation of hydrogen bond interaction of pyridine-2-carboxamide with these alkyl acids lead to red shift of stretching vibration of NH2 and OH groups in IR and Raman spectra. We also studied Hirshfeld surface and UV properties of co-crystals 1-3, and we found that the carbon chain length lead to decrease of close intermolecular interactions, and the formation of hydrogen bond interaction lead to red shift of UV spectra.

Two new metastable forms of 6-chloroquinolin-2(1H)-one: crystal structure, Hirshfeld surfaces and spectroscopic studies.

Two new metastable crystalline forms of 6-chloroquinolin-2(1H)-one (forms II and III), which were induced by two kinds of 3D inorganic anions (ClO4- and BF4-), have been prepared and characterized in this work. We performed single-crystal diffraction, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Hirshfeld surfaces, solid-state vibrational spectroscopy (IR) and thermal analysis (DSC, TGA) to these two new forms as well as the original one (form I). Form I featured with 1D chain, while form II and III featured with dimeric unit with stronger π⋯π and hydrogen bonds interactions. The 3D inorganic anions force the self-assemble behavior of 6-chloroquinolin-2(1H)-one molecules from 1D chain structure (form I) to dimeric unit (forms II and III) due to their large steric hindrance, and different anions induced different orientations for dimeric unit. These transformations lead to the increase of N-H⋯O, π⋯π, and Cl-Cl intermolecular interactions, which lead to blue shift of IR spectra in 1700-1500 cm(-1) region as well as luminescence peaks, while red shift of IR spectra in 650-550 cm(-1) region.

A thermally labile copper (II) complex with hetero N- and O-donor ligands: crystal structure, Hirshfeld surfaces, thermal and luminescent properties.

A new complex ([Cu(L1)2(H2O]2]⋅2H2O, 1) derived from a hetero N- and O-donor ligand 5-methyl-imidazole-3-carboxylic acid (L1H) has been synthesized and characterized. Comparisons between [Cu(L1)2(H2O]2]⋅2H2O, [Co(L2)(H2O]2⋅H2O (2), and [Cu(L2)2H2O]⋅H2O (L2H=5-methyl-isoxazole-3-carboxylic acid) revealed that the coordinated water molecules play a key role in the construction of crystal structures: two coordinated water molecules in the axial positions lead to single-deck 1D chain and 3D motif while one coordinated water molecule resulted to double-deck 1D chain and 2D stacking motif. Molecular Hirshfeld surfaces revealed that complexes 1 and 2 were supported mainly by H-H, C-H⋯π, and O-H⋯O intermolecular interactions. The room temperature solid state luminescent properties of complexes 1 and 2 were all shown as two distinct bands, which attribute to ligand-metal charge transfer and metal purterbed ligand centered emission.