A mononuclear Fe(III) complex showing thermally induced spin crossover and slow magnetic relaxation with reciprocating thermal behaviour.

AC susceptibility measurements of [FeIII(L5)(NCSe)] reveal a field supported slow magnetic relaxation. On cooling, the relaxation time of the high-frequency fraction decreases which is a sign of reciprocating thermal behaviour. The relaxation time for the low-frequency mode at T = 2.0 K is as high as τ(LF) = 2.0 s.

Development of iron-based single atom materials for general and efficient synthesis of amines.

Heterogeneous catalysts with highly active and at the same time stable isolated metal sites constitute a key factor for the advancement of sustainable and cost-effective chemical synthesis. In particular, the development of more practical, and durable iron-based materials is of central interest for organic synthesis, especially for the preparation of chemical products related to life science applications. Here, we report the preparation of Fe-single atom catalysts (Fe-SACs) entrapped in N-doped mesoporous carbon support with unprecedented potential in the preparation of different kinds of amines. The synthetic protocol of Fe-SACs is based on primary pyrolysis of Fe-nitrogen complexes on SiO2 and subsequent removal of silica resulting in the formation of unique mesoporous N-doped carbon support with the pore size controlled by the size of the original silica nanoparticles. The resulting stable and reusable Fe-SACs allow for the reductive amination of a broad range of aldehydes and ketones with ammonia and amines to produce diverse primary, secondary, and tertiary amines including N-methylated products as well as drugs, agrochemicals, and other biomolecules (amino acid esters and amides) utilizing green hydrogen.

Observation of Two-Step Spin Transition in Graphene Oxide-Based Hybrids with Iron(II) 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole Spin Crossover Nanoparticles.

A novel experimental protocol based on a reverse micellar method is presented for the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO)-based hybrids with spin crossover nanoparticles (SCO NPs) of the 1D iron(II) coordination polymer with the formula [Fe(NH2trz)3](Br2). By introducing different quantities of 0.5% and 1.0% of GO (according to iron(II)) into the aqueous phase, two hybrids, NP4 and NP5, were synthesized, respectively. The morphological homogeneity of the NPs on the surface of the GO flakes is greatly improved in comparison to the pristine [Fe(NH2trz)3](Br2) NPs. From the magnetic point of view and at a low magnetic sweep rate of 1 K/min, a two-step hysteretic behavior is observed for NP4 and NP5, where the onset of the low-temperature second step appeared at 40% and 30% of the HS fraction, respectively. For faster sweep rates of 5-10 K/min, the two steps from the cooling branch are progressively smeared out, and the critical temperatures observed are T1/2↑ = 343 K and T1/2↓ = 288 K, with a thermal width of 55 K for both NP4 and NP5. A Raman laser power-assisted protocol was used to monitor the thermal tolerance of the hybrids, while XPS analysis revealed electronic interactions between the SCO NPs and the GO flakes.

Observation of two-step spin transition in iron(II) 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole based spin crossover nanoparticles.

A synthetically controllable two-step spin transition was observed in iron(II) spin crossover nanoparticles of the dehydrated one-dimensional coordination polymer [Fe(NH2trz)3]Br2 (NH2trz = 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole) using the reverse micellar method. The change from two-step to one-step hysteretic characteristics succeeded by changing the reaction time.

Microwave-Enhanced Crystalline Properties of Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles.

Two series of ZnFe2O4 mixed cubic spinel nanoparticles were prepared by a coprecipitation method, where a solution of Fe3+ and Zn2+ was alkalised by a solution of NaOH. While the first series was prepared by a careful mixing of the two solutions, the microwave radiation was used to enhance the reaction in the other series of samples. The effect of the microwave heating on the properties of the prepared particles is investigated. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetometry were employed to prove the cubic structure and superparamagnetic behavior of the samples. The particle size in the range of nanometers was investigated by a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the N2 adsorption measurements were used to determine the BET area of the samples. The stoichiometry and the chemical purity were proven by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Additionally, the inversion factor was determined using the low temperature Mössbauer spectra in the external magnetic field. The microwave heating had a significant effect on the mean coherent length. On the other hand, it had a lesser influence on the size and BET surface area of the prepared nanoparticles.

Iron Nitride Nanoparticles for Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination of Trichloroethylene.

Nitriding has been used for decades to improve the corrosion resistance of iron and steel materials. Moreover, iron nitrides (FexN) have been shown to give an outstanding catalytic performance in a wide range of applications. We demonstrate that nitriding also substantially enhances the reactivity of zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) used for groundwater remediation, alongside reducing particle corrosion. Two different types of FexN nanoparticles were synthesized by passing gaseous NH3/N2 mixtures over pristine nZVI at elevated temperatures. The resulting particles were composed mostly of face-centered cubic (γ'-Fe4N) and hexagonal close-packed (ε-Fe2-3N) arrangements. Nitriding was found to increase the particles' water contact angle and surface availability of iron in reduced forms. The two types of FexN nanoparticles showed a 20- and 5-fold increase in the trichloroethylene (TCE) dechlorination rate, compared to pristine nZVI, and about a 3-fold reduction in the hydrogen evolution rate. This was related to a low energy barrier of 27.0 kJ mol-1 for the first dechlorination step of TCE on the γ'-Fe4N(001) surface, as revealed by density functional theory calculations with an implicit solvation model. TCE dechlorination experiments with aged particles showed that the γ'-Fe4N nanoparticles retained high reactivity even after three months of aging. This combined theoretical-experimental study shows that FexN nanoparticles represent a new and potentially important tool for TCE dechlorination.

An effect of scandium substitution on the phase purity and structural, magnetic, and electrochemical features of ε-Fe2O3 nanoparticle systems.

A series of Sc-substituted ε-Fe2O3 nanoparticles embedded in a silica matrix were synthesized by a sol-gel process. It was found that the preparation of a pure ε-Fe2O3 phase without any other iron(III) oxide phases as admixtures was achieved for ε-Sc0.1Fe1.9O3 (5 at% of Sc) as documented by analyses of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) results. Extensive physicochemical characterization of the ε-Sc0.1Fe1.9O3 sample was performed employing transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), magnetization measurements, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Magnetization vs. temperature plots showed vanishing of the two-step magnetic transition for the Sc-doped ε-Fe2O3 sample; a decrease in the magnetization profile was observed only once upon the change in the temperature. The Sc3+ substitution was found to cause a constriction of the magnetic transition region and a shift of the onset of the magnetic transition to a higher temperature in comparison with the undoped ε-Fe2O3 system. Moreover, upon the introduction of Sc3+ ions in the ε-Fe2O3 crystal lattice, a magnetic hardness was altered accompanied by a decrease in the coercivity. With 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, it was identified that Sc3+ predominantly substitutes Fe3+ in the distorted octahedral A- and B-sites and with almost equivalent occupation probability at both positions. Moreover, the electrochemical measurements confirmed the increase in the resistivity in the Sc-doped ε-Fe2O3 systems. Thus, the results, achieved within the present study, demonstrated an effect of Sc3+ substitution on the preparation purity of ε-Fe2O3 systems without the presence of any other iron(III) oxide admixtures and on the change in its magnetic and electrochemical features, proving their feasible tuning with respect to the requirements of potential future applications.

High-Performance Luminescence Thermometer with Field-Induced Slow Magnetic Relaxation Based on a Heterometallic Cyanido-Bridged 3d-4f Complex.

The 1:1:1 reaction of DyCl3·6H2O, K3[Co(CN)6] and bpyO2 in H2O has provided access to a complex with formula [DyCo(CN)6(bpyO2)2(H2O)3]·4H2O (1) in a very good yield, while [DyFe(CN)6(bpyO2)2 (H2O)3]·4H2O (2) was also precipitated (also in a high yield) using K3[Fe(CN)6] instead of K3[Co(CN)6]. Their structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and characterized based on elemental analyses and IR spectra. Combined direct current (dc) and alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility revealed slow magnetic relaxation upon application of a dc field. µ-SQUID measurements and CASSCF calculations revealed high-temperature relaxation dynamics for both compounds. Low-temperature magnetic studies show the relaxation characteristics for 1, while for compound 2 the dynamics corresponds to an antiferromagnetically coupled Dy···Fe pair. High-resolution optical studies have been carried out to investigate the performance of compounds 1 and 2 as luminescence thermometers. For 1, a maximum thermal sensitivity of 1.84% K-1 at 70 K has been calculated, which is higher than the acceptable sensitivity boundary of 1% K-1 for high-performance luminescence thermometers in a broad range of temperature between 40 and 140 K. Further optical studies focused on the chromaticity diagram of compound 1 revealed a temperature shift from warm white (3200 K) at 10 K toward a more natural white color near 4000 K at room temperature.

A facile approach to prepare silica hybrid, spin-crossover water-soluble nanoparticles as potential candidates for thermally responsive MRI agents.

A reverse micelle method was used for the synthesis of water-soluble silica hybrid, spin-crossover (SCO) nanoparticles (NPs). MRI experiments provided temperature dependent T2 values, indicating their potential use as smart MRI agents, while lyophilization of NP dispersions in water yielded powders with a preserved but modified thermal hysteretic magnetic profile.

Condensed Clustered Iron Oxides for Ultrahigh Photothermal Conversion and In Vivo Multimodal Imaging.

Magnetic iron oxide nanocrystals (MIONs) are established as potent theranostic nanoplatforms due to their biocompatibility and the multifunctionality of their spin-active atomic framework. Recent insights have also unveiled their attractive near-infrared photothermal properties, which are, however, limited by their low near-infrared absorbance, resulting in noncompetitive photothermal conversion efficiencies (PCEs). Herein, we report on the dramatically improved photothermal conversion of condensed clustered MIONs, reaching an ultrahigh PCE of 71% at 808 nm, surpassing the so-far MION-based photothermal agents and even benchmark near-infrared photothermal nanomaterials. Moreover, their surface passivation is achieved through a simple self-assembly process, securing high colloidal stability and structural integrity in complex biological media. The bifunctional polymeric canopy simultaneously provided binding sites for anchoring additional cargo, such as a strong near-infrared-absorbing and fluorescent dye, enabling in vivo optical and photoacoustic imaging in deep tissues, while the iron oxide core ensures detection by magnetic resonance imaging. In vitro studies also highlighted a synergy-amplified photothermal effect that significantly reduces the viability of A549 cancer cells upon 808 nm laser irradiation. Integration of such-previously elusive-photophysical properties with simple and cost-effective nanoengineering through self-assembly represents a significant step toward sophisticated nanotheranostics, with great potential in the field of nanomedicine.

2-D spin crossover materials at the nanometric scale: the effects of the size-reduction on the magnetic properties.

Spin Crossover (SCO) particles at the nanometric scale provide an alternative point of view and a new perspective concerning the development of a new generation of spintronic, electronic, photonic and mechanical devices. The coexistence of the SCO phenomenon with the accompanying hysteresis loop enhances the functionality of future devices for storing and processing information. Despite all promising facts, the SCO phenomena are greatly affected by cooperativity issues resulting in a direct relation between the decrease of the size of nanopatricle and the overall decrease of cooperativity towards more gradual spin transitions. This minireview aims to summarise the synthetic techniques for the synthesis of 2-D FeII SCO particles at the nanometric scale, an underexplored area of research, highlighting the effects of the size-reduction on the magnetic properties of the corresponding nanoparticles and hopefuly showcasing the importance of studying in the context of 2D limit the SCO phenomena.

Hierarchical Porous Graphene-Iron Carbide Hybrid Derived From Functionalized Graphene-Based Metal-Organic Gel as Efficient Electrochemical Dopamine Sensor.

A metal-organic gel (MOG) similar in constitution to MIL-100 (Fe) but containing a lower connectivity ligand (5-aminoisophthalate) was integrated with an isophthalate functionalized graphene (IG). The IG acted as a structure-directing templating agent, which also induced conductivity of the material. The MOG@IG was pyrolyzed at 600°C to obtain MGH-600, a hybrid of Fe/Fe3C/FeOx enveloped by graphene. MGH-600 shows a hierarchical pore structure, with micropores of 1.1 nm and a mesopore distribution between 2 and 6 nm, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area amounts to 216 m2/g. Furthermore, the MGH-600 composite displays magnetic properties, with bulk saturation magnetization value of 130 emu/g at room temperature. The material coated on glassy carbon electrode can distinguish between molecules with the same oxidation potential, such as dopamine in presence of ascorbic acid and revealed a satisfactory limit of detection and limit of quantification (4.39 × 10-7 and 1.33 × 10-6 M, respectively) for the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Core-Shell Fe/FeS Nanoparticles with Controlled Shell Thickness for Enhanced Trichloroethylene Removal.

Zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) treated by reduced sulfur compounds (i.e., sulfidated nZVI, S-nZVI) have attracted increased attention as promising materials for environmental remediation. While the preparation of S-nZVI and its reactions with various groundwater contaminants such as trichloroethylene (TCE) were already a subject of several studies, nanoparticle synthesis procedures investigated so far were suited mainly for laboratory-scale preparation with only a limited possibility of easy and cost-effective large-scale production and FeS shell property control. This study presents a novel approach for synthesizing S-nZVI using commercially available nZVI particles that are treated with sodium sulfide in a concentrated slurry. This leads to S-nZVI particles that do not contain hazardous boron residues and can be easily prepared off-site. The resulting S-nZVI exhibits a core-shell structure where zero-valent iron is the dominant phase in the core, while the shell contains mostly amorphous iron sulfides. The average FeS shell thickness can be controlled by the applied sulfide concentration. Up to a 12-fold increase in the TCE removal and a 7-fold increase in the electron efficiency were observed upon amending nZVI with sulfide. Although the FeS shell thickness correlated with surface-area-normalized TCE removal rates, sulfidation negatively impacted the particle surface area, resulting in an optimal FeS shell thickness of approximately 7.3 nm. This corresponded to a particle S/Fe mass ratio of 0.0195. At all sulfide doses, the TCE degradation products were only fully dechlorinated hydrocarbons. Moreover, a nearly 100% chlorine balance was found at the end of the experiments, further confirming complete TCE degradation and the absence of chlorinated transformation products. The newly synthesized S-nZVI particles thus represent a promising remedial agent applicable at sites contaminated with TCE.

Formic Acid, a Ubiquitous but Overlooked Component of the Early Earth Atmosphere.

Terrestrial volcanism has been one of the dominant geological forces shaping our planet since its earliest existence. Its associated phenomena, like atmospheric lightning and hydrothermal activity, provide a rich energy reservoir for chemical syntheses. Based on our laboratory simulations, we propose that on the early Earth volcanic activity inevitably led to a remarkable production of formic acid through various independent reaction channels. Large-scale availability of atmospheric formic acid supports the idea of the high-temperature accumulation of formamide in this primordial environment.

Light- and temperature-assisted spin state annealing: accessing the hidden multistability.

Among responsive multistable materials, spin crossover (SCO) systems are of particular interest for stabilizing multiple spin states with various stimulus inputs and physical outputs. Here, in a 2D Hofmann-type coordination polymer, [Fe(isoq)2{Au(CN)2}2] (isoq = isoquinoline), a medium-temperature annealing process is introduced after light/temperature stimulation, which accesses the hidden multistability of the spin state. With the combined effort of magnetic, crystallographic and Mössbauer spectral investigation, these distinct spin states are identified and the light- and temperature-assisted transition pathways are clarified. Such excitation-relaxation and trapping-relaxation joint mechanisms, as ingenious interplays between the kinetic and thermodynamic effects, uncover hidden possibilities for the discovery of multistable materials and the development of multistate intelligent devices.

Spin-Crossover Phenomenon in Microcrystals and Nanoparticles of a [Fe(2-mpz)2Ni(CN)4] Two-Dimensional Hofmann-Type Polymer: A Detailed Nano-Topographic Study.

The diamagnetic two-dimensional Hofmann-type metal-organic framework [ZnII(2-mpz)2Ni(CN)4] has been successfully synthesized along with its isostructural hysteretic spin-crossover FeII analogue in the form of both bulk microcrystalline powder and nanoparticles. Detailed atomic force microscopy topographic study revealed a nanogrowth relationship between the height and length of the nanoparticle.

Noncovalent Grafting of a DyIII2 Single-Molecule Magnet onto Chemically Modified Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes.

While synthetic methods for the grafting of nanoparticles or photoactive molecules onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been developed in the last years, a very limited number of reports have appeared on the grafting of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) onto CNTs. There are many potential causes, mainly focused on the fact that the attachment of molecules on surfaces remains not trivial and their magnetic properties are significantly affected upon attachment. Nevertheless, implementation of this particular type of hybrid material in demanding fields such as spintronic devices makes of utmost importance the investigation of new synthetic protocols for effective grafting. In this paper, we demonstrate a new experimental protocol for the noncovalent grafting of DyIII2 SMM, [Dy2(NO3)2(saph)2(DMF)4], where H2saph = N-salicylidene- o-aminophenol and DMF = N, N-dimethylformamide, onto the surface of functionalized multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs). We present a simple wet chemical method, followed by an extensive washing protocol, where the cross-referencing of data from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy, conventional magnetic measurements (direct and alternating current), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the physical properties, chemical nature, and overall magnetic behavior of the resulting hybrids. A key point to the whole synthesis involves the functionalization of MWCNTs with carboxylic groups, which proved to be a powerful strategy for enhancing the ability to process MWCNTs and facilitating the preparation of hybrid composites. While in the majority of analogous hybrid materials the raw carbon material (multiwalled or single-walled nanotubes) is heavily treated to minimize the contribution of contaminant traces of magnetic nanoparticles with important effects on their electronic properties, this method can lead easily to elimination of the largest part of the impurities and provide an effective way to investigate/discriminate the magnetic contribution of the SMM molecules.

A simple high-yield synthesis of high-purity Hägg carbide (χ-Fe5C2) nanoparticles with extraordinary electrochemical properties.

Iron carbides are of eminent interest in both fundamental scientific research and in the industry owing to their properties such as excellent mechanical strength and chemical inertness. They have been found very effective in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis exploring heterogeneous catalysis for the production of chemicals such as liquid fuel and they have also been employed as successful promoters for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, so far there have been only a few reports on the application of iron carbide nanoparticles in the field of electrochemical sensing. Here, we present a stable form of Hägg carbide nanoparticles synthesized from a rare form of iron(iii) oxide (ß-Fe2O3). The as-prepared nanomaterial was characterized employing X-ray powder diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy to prove its composition as well as an extraordinary high purity level. It turned out that Hägg carbide nanoparticles prepared by thermally treated ß-Fe2O3 exhibited excellent electrochemical properties including low charge transfer resistivity (Rct) compared to the other tested materials. Moreover, the Hägg carbide nanoparticles were tested as a promising electrocatalyst for voltammetric detection of the antibiotic metronidazole proving its practical applicability.

Magnetically modified biochar for organic xenobiotics removal.

Large amounts of biochar are produced worldwide for potential agricultural applications. However, this material can also be used as an efficient biosorbent for xenobiotics removal. In this work, biochar was magnetically modified using microwave-synthesized magnetic iron oxide particles. This new type of a magnetically responsive biocomposite material can be easily separated by means of strong permanent magnets. Magnetic biochar has been used as an inexpensive magnetic adsorbent for the removal of water-soluble dyes. Five dyes (malachite green, methyl green, Bismarck brown Y, acridine orange and Nile blue A) were used to study the adsorption process. The dyes adsorption could be usually described with the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacities reached the value 137 mg of dye per g of dried magnetically modified biochar for Bismarck brown Y. The adsorption processes followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the thermodynamic studies indicated spontaneous and endothermic adsorption. Extremely simple magnetic modification of biochar resulted in the formation of a new, promising adsorbent suggested for selected xenobiotics removal.

Colloidal Surface Active Maghemite Nanoparticles for Biologically Safe Cr(VI) Remediation: from Core-Shell Nanostructures to Pilot Plant Development.

The present study is aimed at the exploration of achievable improvements for Cr(VI) ex situ and in situ water remediation by using novel naked colloidal maghemite (γ-Fe2 O3 ) nanoparticles (surface active maghemite nanoparticles, SAMNs). The reliability of SAMNs for Cr(VI) binding and removal was demonstrated, and SAMN@Cr(VI) complex was characterized, as well as the covalent nature of the absorption was unequivocally proved. SAMNs were structurally and magnetically well conserved after Cr(VI) binding. Thus, in consideration of their affinity for Cr(VI) , SAMNs were exploited in a biological model system, mimicking a real in situ application. The assay evidenced a progressive reduction of revertant colonies of Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strain, as maghemite nanoparticles concentration increased, till the complete suppression of Cr(VI) mutagen effect. Finally, an automatic modular pilot system for continuous magnetic removal and recovery of Cr(VI) from water is proposed. SAMNs, thanks to their colloidal, binding, and catalytic properties, represent a promising tool as a reliable nanomaterial for water remediation by Cr(VI) .