Efficient production of few-layer black phosphorus by liquid-phase exfoliation.

Phosphorene is a new two-dimensional material that has recently attracted much attention owing to its fascinating electrical, optical, thermal and chemical properties. Here, we report on high-quality exfoliation of black phosphorus nanosheets, with controllable size produced in large quantities by liquid-phase exfoliation using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent under ambient conditions. The as-synthesized few layers show a great potential for solar energy conversion based on the optical results shown in this work.

Octahedral metal clusters as building units in a neutral layered honeycomb network, [Zn(en)]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6].

A polymeric hybrid cluster-based compound with a double-layered honeycomb framework built of octahedral niobium cyanochloride clusters and [Zn(en)]2+ metal complexes was designed and synthesized at room temperature, and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Ti2 Nb6 Cl14 O4 : A Unique 2D-1D Network Combination in Niobium Cluster Chemistry.

Layers of niobium clusters that are linked to each other through zigzag chains of edge-sharing [TiCl4 O2 ] ocatahedra are the central structural features of the title compound. Bridging of the chains by [(Nb6 Cl8i O4i )Cl6a ]6- clusters results in the formation of empty tunnels (a section of the structure is shown on the right).

A comparative study of solid carbon acid catalysts for the esterification of free fatty acids for biodiesel production. Evidence for the leaching of colloidal carbon.

The preparation of a variety of sulfonated carbons and their use in the esterification of oleic acid is reported. All sulfonated materials show some loss in activity associated with the leaching of active sites. Exhaustive leaching shows that a finite amount of activity is lost from the carbons in the form of colloids. Fully leached catalysts show no loss in activity upon recycling. The best catalysts; 1, 3, and 6; show initial TOFs of 0.07 s(-1), 0.05 s(-1), and 0.14 s(-1), respectively. These compare favorably with literature values. Significantly, the leachate solutions obtained from catalysts 1, 3, and 6, also show excellent esterification activity. The results of TEM and catalyst poisoning experiments on the leachate solutions associate the catalytic activity of these solutions with carbon colloids. This mechanism for leaching active sites from sulfonated carbons is previously unrecognized.

Silicon sheets by redox assisted chemical exfoliation.

In this paper, we report the direct chemical synthesis of silicon sheets in gram-scale quantities by chemical exfoliation of pre-processed calcium disilicide (CaSi2). We have used a combination of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy to characterize the obtained silicon sheets. We found that the clean and crystalline silicon sheets show a two-dimensional hexagonal graphitic structure.

The first coordination polymers and hydrogen bonded networks containing octahedral Nb6 clusters and alkaline earth metal complexes.

Three novel coordination polymers built of octahedral niobium cyanochloride clusters [Nb6Cl12(CN)6] and alkaline earth metal complexes have been prepared by reaction of aqueous solutions of (Me4N)4Nb6Cl18 and KCN with solutions of alkaline earth metal salts and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) (1:2 molar ratio) in H2O/EtOH. The structures of [Ca(phen)2(H2O)3]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] x (phen)(EtOH)1.6 (1), [Ca(phen)2(H2O)2]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] x (phen)2 x 4H2O (2), and [Ba(phen)2(H2O)]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] (3) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The three compounds were found to crystallize in the monoclinic system (space group Pn) with a = 11.5499(6) A, b = 17.5305(8) A, c = 21.784(1) A, beta = 100.877(1) degrees for 1; triclinic system (P1) with a = 12.609(4) A, b = 13.262(4) A, c = 16.645(5) A, alpha = 69.933(6) degrees, beta = 68.607(6) degrees, gamma = 63.522(5) degrees for 2; and a = 16.057(1) A, b = 16.063(1) A, c = 16.061(1) A, alpha = 86.830(1) degrees, beta = 64.380(1) degrees, gamma = 67.803(1) degrees for 3. Compounds 1 and 2 are built of cluster anions [Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4- trans-coordinated by two Ca2+ complexes via CN ligands to form neutral macromolecular units [Ca(phen)2(H2O)3]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] in 1 and [Ca(phen)2(H2O)2]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] in 2. Water of coordination and cyanide ligands form hydrogen bonded 3D and 2D frameworks for 1 and 2, respectively. The structure of 3 consists of [Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4- cluster anions and [Ba(phen)2(H2O)]2+ complexes linked through bridging cyanide ligands to form a neutral three-dimensional framework in which each barium complex is bound to three neighboring Nb6 clusters and each Nb6 cluster is linked to six Ba complexes.

Potassium yttrium hexaniobium octadecachloride, KYNb6Cl18.

The structure of potassium yttrium hexaniobium octadecachloride is built of anionic [Nb(6)Cl(12)(i)Cl(6)(a)](4-) cluster units (where 'i' and 'a' denote inner and outer ligands, respectively), linked together by K(+) and Y(3+) cations. The K(+) cations occupy half of the tetrahedral vacancies in the face-centered cubic lattice of cluster units, and are coordinated by 12 chloride ligands. The Y atom is located in an octahedral site and is bonded to six outer chloride ligands.

K(2)SrNb(6)Cl(18), dipotassium strontium hexaniobium octadecachloride.

The structure of dipotassium strontium hexaniobium octadecachloride is based on [Nb(6)Cl(i)(12)Cl(a)(6)](4-) units (i and a denote 'inner' and 'outer' ligands, respectively), which have crystallographically imposed -3 symmetry, linked together by K(+) and Sr(2+) cations. The K(+) cation occupies a tetrahedral site in the face-centered cubic lattice of cluster units, and is bonded to 12 Cl ligands. The Sr atom is located in an octahedral site and is bonded to six outer Cl ligands.

AVNb3Cl11 (A = K, Rb, Cs, Tl): a series of layered vanadium niobium halides based on triangular Nb3 clusters.

The first quaternary vanadium niobium compounds containing triangular Nb(3) clusters corresponding to the general formula, AVNb(3)Cl(11) (A = K, Rb, Cs, Tl), have been prepared in sealed quartz tubes from stoichiometric amounts of ACl (A = K, Rb, Cs), or Tl metal, VCl(3), Nb powder, and NbCl(5) heated at 740 degrees C. The compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (No. 62). The crystal structures of the Rb and Tl members were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Crystal data: a = 12.771(3) A, b = 6.811(2) A, c = 17.183(3) A, V = 1494.6(1) A(3), and Z = 4 for A = Rb; and a = 12.698(5) A, b = 6.798(3) A, c = 17.145(10) A, V = 1480.0(13) A(3), and Z = 4 for A = Tl. The crystal structure of AVNb(3)Cl(11) consists of triangular Nb(3)Cl(13) clusters (Nb-Nb = 2.826 A) connected to each other via four outer ligands to form infinite chains along the b-axis. The chains are connected by vanadium atoms located in an octahedral environment to form puckered sheets. The A(+) counterions are located between adjacent sheets and coordinate to twelve chlorine ligands in anticubeoctahedral geometry. Electronic structure calculations show bonding orbitals similar to those in Nb(3)Cl(8). Magnetic susceptibility measurements show paramagnetic Curie Weiss behavior.

Octahedral niobium chloride clusters as building blocks of templated prussian blue framework analogues.

The preparation, structure, and magnetic properties of the first three-dimensional framework containing octahedral niobium cyanochloride clusters as building units are reported. Reactions of aqueous solutions of (Me(4)N)(2)K(2)[Nb(6)Cl(12)(CN)(6)] (2) with aqueous solutions of MnCl(2) result in the precipitation of the compound (Me(4)N)(2)[MnNb(6)Cl(12)(CN)(6)] (3). The structure of 3 was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction study (crystal data: cubic, Fm3macrom(No. 225), a = 15.513(4) A, V = 3733.2(12) A(3), Z = 4). Its 3D framework is based on edge-bridged [Nb(6)Cl(12)](2+) clusters and Mn(2+) ions bridged by cyanide ligands to form a cfc lattice [MnNb(6)Cl(12)(CN)(6)](2)(-) in which all tetrahedral sites are occupied by the cations (Me(4)N)(+) which act as charge compensating template. The structure of 3 can be considered as an expansion of the Prussian blue framework in which [Fe(CN)(6)](4)(-) is replaced by the cluster [Nb(6)Cl(12)(CN)(6)](4)(-). Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that Mn(2+) is present in a high spin d(5) configuration. No magnetic ordering is observed.