Exploring the Optical and Energetic Properties of a Co(II)-Based Mixed Ligand MOF.

Due to their remarkable properties, including remarkable porosity and extensive surface area, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are being investigated for various applications. Herein, we report the first Co(II)-based mixed ligand MOF, formulated Co4(HTrz)2(d-cam)2.5(µ-OH)3. Its 3D structure framework is composed of helical chains {[Co4(µ3-HTrz)4]8+}n connected by d-camphorate ligand building blocks and featured as an extended structure in an AB-AB fashion. The investigated compound displays a wide absorption range across the visible spectrum, characterized by an optical gap energy of 3.7 eV, indicating its semiconducting nature and efficient sunlight absorption capabilities across various wavelengths. The electrochemical performance demonstrated an excellent reversibility, cyclability, structural stability, as well as a specific capacity of up to 100 cycles at a scan rate of 0.1 mV·s-1 and a current density of 50 mA·g-1. Thus, it showcases its ability to retain the capacity over numerous charge-discharge cycles. Additionally, the investigated sample displayed an impressive rate capability during the Li-ion charge/discharge process. Therefore, the material's remarkable electrochemical properties can be ascribed to the synergistic effects of its large specific surface area of 348.294 m2·g-1 and well-defined pore size distribution of 20.448 Å, making it a promising candidate for high-performance Li-ion batteries.

A Nickel-Based Semiconductor Hybrid Material with Significant Dielectric Constant for Electronic Capacitors.

A novel semiconducting Ni(II)-based hybrid material with the formula (C7H12N2) NiCl4, which exhibits interesting optical and electrical properties, is reported. The crystal structure was investigated using SCXRD, whereas physical properties were studied by means of thermal analysis, Ft-Infrared, optical, and electrical measurements. Its crystal packing is formed through organic rings surrounded by inorganic [NiCl4]2- tetrahedral and stacked along the a-crystallographic axis. This arrangement is stabilized by a dense network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The investigated compound displayed a wide absorption range across the visible spectrum, characterized by an optical gap energy of 2.64 eV, indicating its semiconducting nature and efficient sunlight absorption capabilities across various wavelengths. Such features are of utmost importance in achieving a high energy conversion efficiency in solar cell applications. Further analyses of the thermal behavior using differential scanning calorimetry revealed a single-phase transition occurring at around 413 K, which was further confirmed through electrical measurements. A deep investigation of the electric and dielectric performances demonstrated a significant dielectric constant (ε' ∼ 104) at low frequencies and low dielectric loss at high frequencies. Thus, it highlights its exceptional dielectric potential, particularly in applications related to electronic capacitors.

Size-tunable silicon nanoparticles synthesized in solution via a redox reaction.

A current challenge in silicon chemistry is to perform liquid-phase synthesis of silicon nanoparticles, which would permit the use of colloidal synthesis techniques to control size and shape. Herein we show how silicon nanoparticles were synthesized at ambient temperature and pressure in organic solvents through a redox reaction. Specifically, a hexacoordinated silicon complex, bis(N,N'-diisopropylbutylamidinato)dichlorosilane, was reduced by a silicon Zintl phase, sodium silicide (Na4Si4). The resulting silicon nanoparticles were crystalline with sizes tuned from a median particle diameter of 15 nm to 45 nm depending on the solvent. Photoluminescence measurements performed on colloidal suspensions of the 45 nm diameter silicon nanoparticles indicated a blue emission signal, attributed to the partial oxidation of the Si nanocrystals or to the presence of nitrogen impurities.

Synergy between polymorphism, pressure, spin-crossover and temperature in [Fe(PM-BiA)2(NCS)2]: a neutron powder diffraction investigation.

The pressure dependencies of the lattice parameters of the spin transition compound [Fe(PM-BiA)2(NCS)2] have been derived from neutron powder diffraction measurements at low temperature. The study of the compound [Fe(PM-BiA)2(NCS)2]-pI has first confirmed the atypical spin crossover behaviour under pressure of this compound that shows a pressure induced structural transition inducing the transformation into a different polymorph, [Fe(PM-BiA)2(NCS)2]-pII. This phenomenon avoids a first-order spin transition in favour of continuous transition around 0.75 GPa at ambient temperature. Low temperature measurements under pressure up to 1.07 GPa allowed us not only to describe the spin-crossover for both polymorphs but also to reach phase-diagram regions where both polymorphs co-exist in different spin-states. Finally, the reversibility of the structural variations has been demonstrated.

Cation ordering in the double tungstate LiFe(WO4)2.

Single crystals of lithium iron tungstate, LiFe(WO(4))(2), were obtained using a high-temperature solution growth method. The analysis was conducted using the monoclinic space group C2/c, with ß = 90.597 (2)°, giving R1 = 0.0177. The Li and Fe atoms lie on twofold axes. The structure can also be refined using the orthorhombic space group Cmcm, giving slightly higher residuals. The experimental value of ß and the residuals mitigate in favour of the monoclinic description of the structure. Calculated bond-valence sums for the present results are closer to expected values than those obtained using the results of a previously reported analysis of this structure.

Synthesis and characterization of Eu3+, Ti4+ @ ZnO organosols and nanocrystalline c-ZnTiO3 thin films aiming at high transparency and luminescence.

By exploiting colloidal properties, such as transparency, rheology and versatile chemistry, we propose to synthesize new photonic nanomaterials based on colloidal solutions and thin films. This contribution highlights our efforts to elaborate and to characterize nanostructures based on the ZnO-TiO2 system. Using a recently developed sol-gel route to synthesize new Ti4+@ZnO organosols, we were able to prepare, at relatively low temperature (400 °C) and short annealing time (15 min), highly transparent, luminescent, nanocrystalline Eu3+ doped c-ZnTiO3 thin films. The organosols and thin films were characterized with UV-visible-near infrared absorption, ellipsometry, photoluminescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.

Nanoparticles of [Fe(NH2-trz)3]Br2.3H2O (NH2-trz=2-amino-1,2,4-triazole) prepared by the reverse micelle technique: influence of particle and coherent domain sizes on spin-crossover properties.

This paper describes the synthesis of iron(II) spin-crossover nanoparticles prepared by the reverse micelle technique by using the non-ionic surfactant Lauropal (Ifralan D0205) from the polyoxyethylenic family. By changing the surfactant/water ratio, the size of the particles of [Fe(NH2-trz)3]Br2.3H2O (with NH2trz=4-amino-1,2,4-triazole) can be controlled. On the macroscopic scale this complex exhibits cooperative thermal spin crossovers at 305 and 320 K. We find that when the size is reduced down to 50 nm, the spin transition becomes gradual and no hysteresis can be detected. For our data it seems that the critical size, for which the existence of a thermal hysteresis can be detected, is around 50 nm. Interestingly, the change of the particle size induces almost no change in the temperature of the thermal spin transition. A systematic determination of coherent domain size carried out on the nanoparticles by powder X-ray diffraction indicates that at approximately 30 nm individual particles consist of one coherent domain.