Achieving Magnetic Refrigerants with Large Magnetic Entropy Changes and Low Magnetic Ordering Temperatures.

Adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration (ADR) is a promising cooling technology with high efficiency and exceptional stability in achieving ultralow temperatures, playing an indispensable role at the forefront of fundamental and applied science. However, a significant challenge for ADR is that existing magnetic refrigerants struggle to concurrently achieve low magnetic ordering temperatures (T0) and substantial magnetic entropy changes (-ΔSm) at ultralow temperatures. In this work, we propose the combination of Gd3+ and Yb3+ to effectively regulate both -ΔSm and T0 in ultralow temperatures. Notably, the -ΔSm values for Gd0.1Yb0.9F3 (1) and Gd0.3Yb0.7F3 (2) in the 0.4-1.0 K range exceed those of all previously reported magnetic refrigerants within this temperature interval, positioning them as the most efficient magnetic refrigerants for the third stage to date. Although the -ΔSm values for Gd0.5Yb0.5F3 (3) in 1-4 K are less than those of the leading magnetic refrigerant Gd(OH)F2, the -ΔSm values for Gd0.7Yb0.3F3 (4) in 1-4 K at 2 T surpass those of all magnetic refrigerants previously documented within the same temperature range, making it the superior magnetic refrigerant for the fourth stage identified thus far.

High-Nuclearity Ln210Al140 Clusters: Neonates of Open Hollow Dodecahedral Cage Families.

Open hollow dodecahedral cage clusters have long been a coveted target in synthetic chemistry, yet their creation poses immense challenges. Here we report two open hollow dodecahedral lanthanide-aluminum (Ln-Al) heterometallic cage clusters, namely, [Ln210Al140(µ2-OH)210(µ3-OH)540(OAc)180(H2O)156](ClO4)120·(MeCN)x·(H2O)y, (Ln = Dy and x = 27, y = 300 for 1; Ln = Y and x = 28, y = 420 for 2). Remarkably, the 350 metal atoms in 1 and 2 display a Keplerate-type four-shell structure of truncated icosidodecahedron@dodecahedron@dodecahedron@icosidodecahedron. The diameter of the cationic cluster in 1 is approximately 5.0 nm, with an inner cavity diameter of about 2.8 nm and a window diameter of roughly 0.66 nm. The cluster in 1 boasts an accessible inner void volume of up to 15,000 Å3. Notably, these cage clusters maintain stability in water, and the truncated icosidodecahedrons in 1 and 2 are the first of their kind synthesized to date. Given that the open hollow dodecahedral Ln-Al cage cluster has never been reported before, this work represents a member in the family of hollow open dodecahedral cages.

pH-Driven Rotational Configuration of Keggin-Fe13 Clusters and Their Transformations.

Keggin-Fe13 clusters are considered foundational building blocks or prenucleation precursors of ferrihydrite. Understanding the factors that influence the rotational configuration of these clusters, and their transformations in water, is vital for comprehending the formation mechanism of ferrihydrite. Here, we report syntheses and crystal structures of four lanthanide-iron-oxo clusters, namely, [Dy6Fe13(Gly)12(µ2-OH)6(µ3-OH)18(µ4-O)4(H2O)17]·13ClO4·19H2O (1), [Dy6Fe13(Gly)12(µ3-OH)24(µ4-O)4(H2O)18]·13ClO4·14H2O (2), [Pr8Fe34(Gly)24(µ3-OH)28(µ3-O)30(µ4-O)4(H2O)30]·6ClO4·20H2O (3), and [Pr6Fe13(Gly)12(µ3-OH)24(µ4-O)4(H2O)18]·13ClO4·22H2O (4, Gly = glycine). Single-crystal analyses reveal that 1 has a ß-Keggin-Fe13 cluster, marking the first documented instance of such a cluster to date. Conversely, both 2 and 4 contain an α-Keggin-Fe13 cluster, while 3 is characterized by four hexavacant ε-Keggin-Fe13 clusters. Magnetic property investigations of 1 and 2 show that 2 exhibits ferromagnetic interactions, while 1 exhibits antiferromagnetic interactions. An exploration of the synthetic conditions for 1 and 2 indicates that a higher pH promotes the formation of α-Keggin-Fe13 clusters, while a lower pH favors ß-Keggin-Fe13 clusters. A detailed analysis of the transition from 3 to 4 emphasizes that lacunary Keggin-Fe13 clusters can morph into Keggin-Fe13 clusters with a decrease in pH, accompanied by a significant change in their rotational configuration.

A Doped Lanthanide-Based Coordination Polymer Exhibiting High Relative Sensitivity to Ratiometric Luminescent Thermometers at 440 K.

Ratiometric luminescent thermometers with excellent performance often require the luminescent materials to possess high thermal stability and relative sensitivity (Sr). However, such luminescent materials are very rare, especially in physiological (298-323 K) and high-temperature (>373 K) regions. Here we report the synthesis and luminescent property of [Tb0.995Eu0.005(pfbz)2(phen)Cl] (3), which not only exhibits high Sr in physiological temperature but also has a Sr up to 7.47% K-1 at 440 K, the largest Sr at 440 K in known lanthanide-based coordination compound luminescent materials.

Gd(OH)F2: A Promising Cryogenic Magnetic Refrigerant.

Magnetic refrigerants with a large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in a wide temperature range and low magnetic ordering temperature (To) in the sub-kelvin temperature region are not only crucial for adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration but also open up a broader parameter space for the optimal design of adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators. However, such magnetic refrigerants are extremely rare because they require magnetic materials to simultaneously satisfy three conditions: low To, weak magnetic interaction, and high magnetic density. Here, we report the syntheses, heat capacities, and magnetic properties of Gd(OH)3-xFx (1: x = 1, 2: x ≈ 1.5, and 3: x = 2), demonstrating for the first time that the introduction of fluoride anions into antiferromagnetic Gd(OH)3 can effectively regulate its To. Significantly, 3 not only has a To of 0.5 K but also exhibits a large MCE in the temperature range from 0.5 to 4 K, representing the best magnetic refrigerant reported to date in the temperature range of 0.5-4 K from the viewpoint of the MCE.

Magnetocaloric Effect and Thermal Conductivity of a 3D Coordination Polymer of [Gd(HCOO)(C2O4)]n.

A 3D coordination polymer, [Gd(HCOO)(C2O4)]n was prepared. Its magnetocaloric effect (MCE) (32.7 J K-1 kg-1 at 2 K and 2 T) is significantly larger than that of commercial Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) (14.6 J kg-1 K-1 at 2 K and 2 T), while its thermal conductivity (9.9 W m-1 K-1 at 3 K) is comparable to that of the commercial GGG (about 10 W m-1 K-1 at 3 K).

In Situ Observation of Vapor-Assisted 2D-3D Heterostructure Formation for Stable and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

The heterogeneous stacking of a thin two-dimensional (2D) perovskite layer over the three-dimensional (3D) perovskite film creates a sophisticated architecture for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). It combines the remarkable thermal and environmental stabilities of 2D perovskites with the superior optoelectronic properties of 3D materials which resolves the chronic stability issue with no compromise on efficiency. Herein, we propose the vapor-assisted growth strategy to fabricate high-quality 2D/3D heterostructured perovskite films by introducing long-chain organoamine gases in which the 2D layers have a uniform and tunable thickness. The 3D to 2D transformation of the widely adopted MAPbI3 (MA = methylammonium) film is initiated by the butylamine vapor and monitored through the in situ grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction technique. A variety of 2D species are observed and rationalized by the different collapsing and reconstruction models of the Pb-I octahedra. The PSC devices based on the optimized 2D/3D heterostructures show significant improvements in photovoltaic performances, owing to better energy level alignments, longer carrier lifetimes, and less defects as compared to their 3D analogues. In addition, both the butylamine vapor-treated perovskite films and the derived PSC devices demonstrate exceptional long-term stabilities.

Highly Thermostable and Efficient Formamidinium-Based Low-Dimensional Perovskite Solar Cells.

Currently, most two-dimensional (2D) metal halide perovskites are of the Ruddlesden-Popper type and contain the thermally unstable methylammonium (MA) molecules, which leads to inferior photovoltaic performance and mild stability. Here we report a new type of MA-free formamidinium (FA) based low-dimensional perovskites, featuring a general formula of (PDA)(FA)n-1 Pbn I3n+1 with propane-1,3-diammonium (PDA) as the organic spacer cation. The perovskite films with well-oriented crystal grains are attained under the assistance of the FACl additive, where the role of Cl is investigated through the grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction technique. The photovoltaic device based on the optimized (PDA)(FA)3 Pb4 I13 film demonstrates a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 13.8 %, the highest record for the FA-based 2D perovskite solar cells. In addition, compared to (PDA)(MA)3 Pb4 I13 , the MA-containing analogue and a renowned stable 2D perovskite, both the (PDA)(FA)3 Pb4 I13 films and their derived devices exhibit exceedingly higher thermal stability.

36-Nuclearity Organophosphonate-Functionalized Polyoxomolybdates: Synthesis, Characterization and Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Sulfides.

The crown-shaped 36-molybdate cluster organophosphonate-functionalized polyoxomolybdates with the highest nuclearity in organophosphonate-based polyoxometalate chemistry, (NH4 )19 Na7 H10 [Cu(H2 O)TeMo6 O21 {N(CH2 PO3 )3 }]6 ⋅31 H2 O, has been reported for the first time. The synthesized 36-molybdate cluster was characterized by routine techniques and tested as a heterogeneous catalyst for selective oxidation of sulfides with impressive catalytic and selective performances after heat treatment. High efficiency (TON=15333) was achieved in the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides, caused by the synergic effect between copper and polyoxomolybdates and the generation of the cuprous species during the heat treatment.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Crown-Shaped 36-Molybdate Cluster and Application in Catalyzing Knoevenagel Condensation.

A novel crown-shaped 36-molybdate cluster with organophosphonate-functionalized polyoxomolybdates, (NH4)17Na7H12[Co(H2O)TeMo6O21{N(CH2PO3)3}]6·42H2O, has been successfully synthesized and well-characterized. It owns the highest nuclearity in the family of organophosphonate-based polyoxometalates reported so far. Furthermore, for the first time in the field, we illustrated that polyoxomolybdate could work as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction with high TOF (7714 h-1) and good recyclability. Impressively, the catalytic performance of 1 was also tested successfully in a large scale (∼10 g) reaction, where 89% of reaction yield and 3216 of TON were afforded.

Lanthanide-Titanium Oxo Clusters as the Luminescence Sensor for Nitrobenzene Detection.

A luminescent lanthanide-titanium oxo cluster of Eu2Ti4(µ2-O)2(µ3-O)4(phen)2(tbza)10·4CH3CN (1, Eu2Ti4-phen-tbza, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, Htbza = 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid) was prepared through the reaction of phen, Htbza, Eu(Ac)3·xH2O, and Ti(OiPr)4 in acetonitrile. Its overall absolute quantum yield is 65.4% in solid state and 30.2% in CH2Cl2, and the detection limit of 1 for the nitrobenzene (NB) is 10.5 ppb. When the concentration of NB is 40 ppm, the luminescence quenching of 1 can be observed with the naked eye. Time-resolved excited-state decay measurements indicate that the static quenching process is dominated across the NB concentration of 0-9 ppm. The distinguishable shifts in 1H NMR spectra of NB together with 1 confirm the presence of π···π stacking interactions between the organic ligands in 1 and the NB, which plays a key contribution for the quenching of luminescence.

A New Organic Interlayer Spacer for Stable and Efficient 2D Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskite Solar Cells.

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskite materials have exhibited great possibilities toward the fabrication of highly efficient and stable solar cell devices. The large degree of structural versatility due to the viable choices of organic interlayer spacers promises new and valuable 2D perovskite species. Herein, phenyltrimethylammonium (PTA+) is successfully employed as the organic interlayer spacer to prepare the 2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite films that exhibit exceptional optoelectronic properties. By adding Cl- ions during film growth, the (PTA)2(MA)3Pb4I13 (MA = methylammonium) perovskite films are effectively prepared with a tunable crystal orientation and film morphology. The optimized devices fabricated with the assistance of Cl- ions deliver the power conversion efficiency up to 11.53%, which is ascribed to the simultaneous reductions of charge transfer resistance and defect-induced charge recombination. Moreover, the PTA-based 2D perovskite solar cells demonstrate remarkable environmental and thermal stabilities.

A Stable Polyoxometalate-Based Metal-Organic Framework as Highly Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for Oxidation of Alcohols.

A novel copper-containing 3D polyoxometalate-based metal-organic framework (POMOF), H[Cu5ΙCuΙΙ(pzc)2(pz)4.5{P2W18O62}]·6H2O (HENU-1, HENU = Henan University; Hpzc = pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid, pz = pyrazine), was successfully isolated by a one-step hydrothermal method. In this compound, the {P2W18} polyanion acts as a seven-connected linker bridging adjacent 2D double-layer networks, as well as a template to induce the formation of the desired 3D framework. Particularly, the pz ligands are generated from pzc ligands in situ during the reaction process. HENU-1 exhibits not only good stability in air but also tolerance to acidic and basic media. It was first employed as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of 1-phenylethanol into acetophenone, which shows 97% yield using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant with a turnover frequency of up to 9690·h-1, and was reused for at least five cycles without significant catalytic activity loss. No POM leaching or framework decomposition was observed in our study.

Polyoxotungstate Cluster Species Connected by Glutamic Acid and Europium.

An organic-inorganic hybridized polyoxotungstate which contains two kinds of covalently linked tungstate clusters in its polyanion has been obtained. The three clusters are connected by glutamic acid molecules and europium atoms through Eu-O-C bonds. The cluster in the middle position is a tetramer. Two of the same clusters at two sides are dimers that are functionalized by glutamic acid molecules. The solid-state luminescence of this compound exhibited the characteristic emission of Eu3+ centers with a lifetime of 232 µs.

A Crown-Shaped Ru-Substituted Arsenotungstate for Selective Oxidation of Sulfides with Hydrogen Peroxide.

An acetate-bridged Ru-substituted arsenotungstate [H2 N(CH3 )2 ]14 [As4 W40 O140 {Ru2 (CH3 COO)}2 ]⋅22 H2 O (1) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Four Ru atoms occupy the respective lacunary S2 sites of the crown-shaped polyanion [As4 W40 O140 ]28- , and each Ru atom is coordinated by one As atom and five µ2 -O atoms, comprising four from the S2 site and one from the acetate ligand. To the best of our knowledge, this coordination of the Ru atom, with an Ru-As bond length of 2.377(3)-2.387(3) Å, is unprecedented in polyoxometalate (POM) chemistry. Notably, 1 exhibits high efficiency, excellent selectivity, and good recyclability for the oxidation of sulfides with hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ). Catalytic oxidation of various sulfides in the presence of 1 gives superior conversion and selectivity for sulfones in acetonitrile, whereas sulfoxides are obtained in methanol.

Accurate Prediction of the Magnetic Ordering Temperature of Ultralow-Temperature Magnetic Refrigerants.

Adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration is known to be the only cryogenic refrigeration technology that can achieve ultralow temperatures (≪1 K) at gravity-free conditions. The key indexes to evaluate the performance of magnetic refrigerants are their magnetic entropy changes (-ΔSm) and magnetic ordering temperature (T0). Although, based on the factors affecting the -ΔSm of magnetic refrigerants, one has been able to judge if a magnetic refrigerant has a large -ΔSm, how to accurately predict their T0 remains a huge challenge due to the fact that the T0 of magnetic refrigerants is related to not only magnetic exchange but also single-ion anisotropy and magnetic dipole interaction. Here, we, taking GdCO3F (1), Gd(HCOO)F2, Gd2(SO4)3·8H2O, GdF3, Gd(HCOO)3 and Gd(OH)3 as examples, demonstrate that the T0 of magnetic refrigerants with very weak magnetic interactions and small anisotropy can be accurately predicted by integrating mean-field approximation with quantum Monte Carlo simulations, providing an effective method for predicting the T0 of ultralow-temperature magnetic refrigerants. Thus, the present work lays a solid foundation for the rational design and preparation of ultralow-temperature magnetic refrigerants in the future.

A Gd-based borate-carbonate framework exhibiting a large magnetocaloric effect at a low magnetic field.

A 3D borate-carbonate framework, GdB(OH)4CO3 (1), was synthesized. Magnetic study reveals that its MCE is up to 33.5 J kg-1 K-1 at 2 K and 2 T, due to the introduction of a long magnetic exchange path of Gd-O-B-O-Gd leading to 1 exhibiting weak magnetic interaction.

Improving efficiency and stability of colorful perovskite solar cells with two-dimensional photonic crystals.

Colorful solar cells have been much sought after because they can generate electricity and concurrently satisfy ornamentation purposes. Owing to their outstanding power conversion efficiency and flexibility in processing, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have the great potential to become both efficient and aesthetically appealing. Here, we specially devise and fabricate two novel electron transport layers (ETLs) for PSCs with two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal structures, namely the 2D inverse opal (IO) structured SnO2 (IOS) and SnO2-TiO2 composite (IOST), using the template-assisted spin-coating method. The synergistic structure and material modifications to the ETLs lead to a number of unique features, including the remarkable electron transfer ability, vivid colors and good protection to the infiltrated perovskite films. Furthermore, the IOS and IOST ETLs are effectively incorporated into the CH3NH3PbI3-based PSC devices that deliver the best efficiency of 16.8% with structural colors.

Selenotungstates incorporating organophosphonate ligands and metal ions: synthesis, characterization, magnetism and catalytic efficiency in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction.

Three sandwich-type TM-containing (TM = transition metal) organophosphonate-based polyoxotungstate clusters, [TM(H2O)4(SeW6O21)2{Co(OOCCH2NCH2PO3)2}3]12- (TM = Co, Ni), have been successfully synthesized, which are the first reported TM-containing organophosphonate-based selenotungstates. They were structurally characterized by PXRD analyses, IR spectroscopy, TGA analyses, etc. Magnetic measurements show that all three compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions. Besides, Co1 can be used as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in the Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate under mild conditions (60 °C), and exhibits satisfactory conversion (93%) and high selectivity (99%).

Polyoxotungstates incorporated organophosphonate and nickel: synthesis, characterization and efficient catalysis for epoxidation of allylic alcohols.

Three new sandwich-type organophosphonate-functionalized polyoxotungstate clusters, [{Ni(H2O)5}x(AsW6O21)2{Ni(OOCCH2NCH2PO3)2}3] (x = 0 (Ni1), 1 (Ni2 and Ni3)), were successfully isolated via a "top-down" synthetic strategy. Compounds (Ni1-Ni3) were characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), IR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Magnetic properties provide evidence for antiferromagnetic coupling in Ni2 and Ni3 and ferromagnetic interaction in Ni1. Catalytic studies of the three polyoxotungstates for the oxidation of allylic alcohols to epoxides have been investigated in water with H2O2 as the oxidant. All three polyoxotungstates exhibit efficient catalytic performance with excellent conversion and high selectivity at room temperature.