We studied the effects of surface fluorination on the dispersion stability and the electrical conductivity of SnO₂ particles using F₂ gas. The fluorine contents (x) in SnO_2−xF_x depended on the reaction temperature and pressures. The surface fluorination of SnO₂ particles with F₂ gas makes to enhance the dispersion stability and electrical conductivity.

Global reaction route mapping on the potential energy surface of H₂O adsorbed on Cu(111) surface was performed by the artificial force induced reaction method. The resulting reaction path network was systematically analyzed by a kinetic method called rate constant matrix contraction.

We developed a novel 1,8-naphthyridine-based chelate ligand ^t-BuNBSi that contains two silyl coordinating moieties at the 2,7-positions. Reaction of a ligand precursor ^t-BuNBSi(H)₂ (1) with Ru₃(CO)₁₂ gave diruthenium(II,II) complex 2 with a zigzag Si–Ru–Ru–Si arrangement. Photoirradiation to 2 caused dehydrogenation and CO coordination to afford diruthenium(I,I) complex 3 with a linear Si–Ru–Ru–Si linkage involving a very long Ru–Ru bond.

A negatively charged π-electronic system was prepared by the complexation of a dipyrrolyldiketone BF₂ complex as an anion receptor with a trialkyl-substituted azobenzene carboxylate. The bulk-state properties and photo-responsive behaviors of the azobenzene carboxylate in the ion-pairing form were controlled by complexation with the receptor molecule. The formation of receptor–carboxylate complexes was found to modulate the sizes, shapes, and electronic states of the anionic π-electronic systems, exhibiting the potential to form a variety of ion-pairing assemblies.

An iodine-filled iridium skutterudite compound I_0.9Ir₄Sb₁₂ with a lattice constant of 9.3153(6) Å was obtained by high-pressure and high-temperature reactions at 13 GPa and 850 °C from iodine excess starting mixtures. This compound contains anions in the skutterudite cages, although normal skutterudite compounds usually contain cations in the cages. Band structure calculations indicate that the compound is a metal with a conduction band highly contributed by iodine 5p orbitals.

In this study, we investigated the structure and mobility of excess imidazole (Im) in a proton-conducting poly(vinylphosphonic acid)(PVPA)-Im composite material (PVPA/xIm (x ≥ 2), where x is the molar ratio of Im to the repeating polymer unit). The excess Im formed aggregates in PVPA/xIm that melted at ~60 °C. The mobility of Im in the aggregates and after they melted was investigated using solid-state ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The contribution of Im to the proton conduction of the material was discussed.

In this work, a kind of multi-functional MF foam with superhydrophobic, oleophylic and magnetic properties was fabricated via an in-situ coprecipitation. Firstly, the MF foam was immersed in the solution containing FeCl₂·4H₂O and FeCl₃·6H₂O. Then, SA@Fe₃O₄ micro-nanoparticles were formed on surface of the MF foam by coprecipitation reaction with stearic acid.

Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) monoliths were prepared from a solution of linear PBT solution by cooling induced phase separation. The bicontinuous monoliths composed of globules having a micro-fin structure, and the morphological feature has never been reported in the literature. Both the size of the globule and the fin thickness could be controlled by the refrigeration temperature.

The luminescent NCDs with high fluorescence quantum yield (46.01%) were synthesized from ammonium citrate and betaine hydrochloride by one-pot hydrothermal method. NCDs exhibit excellent selective and sensitive detection for H⁺ and Hg²⁺ (low detection limit of 1.69 nM for Hg²⁺). Finally, the low toxicity and highly photoluminescent NCDs are utilized to detect of H⁺ and Hg²⁺ in SMMC-7721 living cells.

A novel triptycene (Trp) based aliphatic steric protection group, Trp* was designed and synthesized. A convenient one-pot synthesis of Trp*Br was achieved, and Trp* group’s potential to offer kinetic stabilization was evaluated in the context of synthesizing a sulfenic acid (RSOH). The isolated Trp*SOH is thermally very stable, which neatly demonstrates the steric protection provided by Trp* group.

We have fabricated hybrids of two-dimensional silica colloidal crystals and gold nanospheres for the development of effective SERS platforms with a high spatial reproducibility. The SERS signal on the hybrids was enhanced up to 10.4 times by optimizing the silica diameter, as compared with that on the gold nanospheres-immobilized planar glass plate.

In this work, we describe the design and synthesis of a 2-quinolone Schiff base as a novel acidic fluorescent probe. The design strategy of the probe is based on non-classical hydrogen bonding in the form of an intramolecular three-centered hydrogen bond (THB). pH titrations indicate that there is enhancement of fluorescence with increasing proton concentration.

Solar methane generation was demonstrated using a Cu-Ag-GDE, and a BiVO₄:Mo film as a photoanode combined with a CIS-PV. Instead of using dissolved CO₂ in a solution, a gas-phase CO₂ was utilized by directly flowing it from one side of the porous GDE at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

A ring-contraction reaction of electron-deficient 3-silylchromenes to 2-benzylbenzofurans was developed. CsF efficiently promoted the reaction at room temperature to afford a variety of 2-benzylbenzofurans in good yields. The reaction is proposed to proceed through an allenyl intermediate.

Comprehensive studies on 2-D honeycomb-type magnets (NBu₄)[M^IIFe^III(ox)₃] (M^II = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu) reveal that family orders ferrimagnetically at comparable temperatures (21–43 K), and the mixed-valence Fe^IIFe^III compound orders at elevated temperature (43 K) relative to other M^IIFe^III compounds (21–28 K). The relevance of these magnetic characteristics to other families is reviewed.

A dehydrative cross-etherification reation of two different alcohols is achieved in the presence of hydrothermally synthesized tungsten-titanium mixed metal oxide (W-Ti-O) catalyst. The reaction is environmentally benign: any organic solvent is not necessary and the catalyst is readily recovered and reuable.

A copper-mediated decarboxylative coupling of benzamides with potassium malonate monoesters via 8-aminoquinoline-directed C–H cleavage has been developed. This reaction proceeds only by a copper salt to produce the corresponding alkylation products in good yields.

The stereoselective synthesis of kaitocephalin is described. The central strategy is based on chirality transfer reactions of three secondary alcohols derived from l-arabinose. The Overman rearrangement of an α,β-unsaturated ester, and intramolecular anti-type S_N2′ reaction constructed a β-hydroxy-α,α-disubstituted amino acid moiety. The third chirality transfer reaction is the Ichikawa rearrangement. These stereoselective reactions successfully established three contiguous stereocenters embedded in kaitocephalin.

The structure of nickel-palladium (Ni-Pd) alloy clusters was determined using density functional theory (DFT). For the 7- and 13-atom clusters the lowest energy structures are those that maximize the number of Ni-Pd interactions and they behave as quantum dots. For the 55- and 147-atom clusters, the segregated structure is the most stable isomer and they exhibit metallic character.

Leontopodium longifolium is a perennial herb and mainly distributed in the west area of China, the whole plants of L. longifolium were collected from Qinghai Province P. R. China. A novel rearranged triquinane norsesquiterpene was isolated from the roots of L. longifolium, and the absolute configuration was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction method.

The neutral protease from Bacillus Subtilis was immobilized via a high-affinity ligand. l-Arginine was screened as a ligand of neutral proteases because its binding energy with domain B is higher than 11.72 kcal/mol. The neutral protease immobilized on arginine-functionalized supports had higher affinity for the substrate, and exhibited excellent thermostability, pH stability, storage stability and hydrolysis efficiency.

Two adsorption states of CO on amorphous solid water (ASW) consist of CO interacting with dangling OH and CO interacting with bonded OH. Photoirradiation onto the ASW at 157 nm induces CO₂ formation through the reaction of CO with OH from the photodissociation of H₂O. Preferential formation of CO₂ was observed in the CO–dangling OH. Plausible reaction mechanisms are proposed.

The rigid and planar acridone moiety was successfully linked with a chiral pyrrolidine template through an amide bond to develop a novel organocatalyst. This organocatalyst competently promotes the asymmetric Michael addition of cyclohexanone to nitroolefins with anisole, naphthalene, and heterocyclic aromatic rings under neat conditions. In this novel approach, the acridone moiety proved effective in chiral organocatalysis.

Cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation behaviors of platinum nanosheets intercalated between graphite layers (Pt-GIC) were compated with those of platinum metal particles on graphite surfaces (Pt/Gmix) in supercritical carbon dioxide solvent at 323 K. Higher hydrogenation conversions were obtained with Pt/Gmix than Pt-GIC at the initial stage; however, higer cinnamyl alcohol yields were obtained with Pt-GIC than Pt-Gmix at similar conversions.

Two geometric isomers of [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₂(O–N)]-type complex were prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography (O–N = 3-hydroxypicolinamide). The redox potential of the Ru center was remarkably shifted by isomerization. The UV-vis and electrochemical measurements suggested that slow isomerization from trans(P,Cl),trans(P,N) geometry to trans(P,P) induced the oxidation and deprotonation of the complex.

Pyrene–urea compounds, 1PUP and 4PUP were studied concerning the excited state intermolecular proton transfer followed by a tautomer formation in the presence of an acetate ion. Drastic wavelength change and enhancement of fluorescence intensity of tautomer of 4PUP were obtained in comparison to 1PUP. Our findings will contribute to the molecular design of fluorescence materials with pyrene moieties.

Although ortho-Phenylene derivatives have a high activation energy for helical inversion, these helices undergo rapid helical inversion in acetonitrile. The solvent effect on helical inversion was investigated by using DFT calculations with the PCM. We found that the dihedral angles become small with an increasing dielectric constant, and the ortho-phenylene may take the symmetric helical inversion pathway in solution.

We serendipitously found that silver indium sulfide (AIS) nanocrystals (NCs), synthesized at a feed Ag:In precursor molar ratio of 1:6, show not only adequately high values of absolute photoluminescence quantum yield (PL-QY) of ~60%, but also prominent PL-QY stability for a long time.

This illustration shows thiol group occurring in three states: protonated, deprotonated and as a complex compound with mercury. The process applied to the short and rigid thiol group molecule disrupted the orientation behavior of liquid crystal. This study has proven the ability of short and rigid molecules in altering the orientation behavior of liquid crystal.

An organic ionic plastic crystal (OIPC) consisting of racemic N_1233′Tf₂N (1) was developed and the ionic conductivity is ca. 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at low temperature of 11 °C. NMR and DSC studies revealed that the introduction of racemic cations in OIPCs decreases the intermolecular interactions and it lead to the enhancement in the ionic conductivity.

Highly ordered lamellar film of poly(dodecylacrylate-co-acrylic acid) was prepared by simply annealing the spin coating film under humid condition. X-ray diffraction spectrum of the lamellar film showed strong Bragg diffractions at out-of-plane direction whereas the spectrum showed only a wide halo at in-plan direction, which indicate that main chains and side chains take an amorphous state. It was proposed that the segregation between hydrophobic alkyl side chains and hydrophilic main chains with water is the driving force for the lamellar formation.

Open-cage ketolactam fullerene bearing N-electron donating substituent underwent regioselective mono-hydroamination with phenylhydrazine, the structure of which was confirmed by 2D INADEQUATE ¹³C NMR studies on a ¹³C enriched derivative. Furthermore the regioselective double-hydroamination of N-electron withdrawing group substituted ketolactam open-cage fullerene was found to proceed with concomitant water encapsulation.

Ordered ZnO/Au micro/nanostructured pore array was successfully synthesized based on a monolayer polystyrene sphere template, which can be used directly as a hydrogen peroxide sensor electrode.

Asymmetric smectic liquid crystals of benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene substituted with monoalkyl and phenyl groups, 6-alkyl-2-phenyl-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (Ph-BDT-Cn, n = 8, 14), were synthesized. Both compounds exhibited the SmE phase which was suitable for fabricating uniform polycrystalline thin film by spin-coating methods. FET mobility is increased from 0.051 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ in monolayered crystal to 0.59 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ in bilayered crystal structures by thermal annealing at 130 °C for 15 min.

Buckycatcher with C₆₀ complex (BC/C₆₀) can be formed because of the π-π interaction between the convex surface of the C₆₀ and the concave faces of corannulene subunits of BC. We perform DFT calculations on the structures and excitation spectrum of BC molecules and BC/C₆₀ complexes and found that charge-transfer-type excitations from BC to C₆₀ are possible in BC/C₆₀ complexes.

Amorphous films of WO₃ are electrodeposited on GaN for the first time and characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, and EDS. The gas sensor based on WO₃ films exhibited high sensitivity (6.43), quick response (19 s), fast recovery time (11 s), and good selectivity to acetone gas at room temperature. The as-prepare sensors are promising for non-invasive detection of diabetes.

In our work, we introduced benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) into PQ/PMMA to increase the concentration of PQ (up to 1.15 wt%) within the polymeric media. The enhancement of concentration of PQ brings a means for improving performance of material. This is an efficient method to improve polarization holographic characteristics of PQ/PMMA.

Thermoelectric and thermal properties of sumanene have been investigated and compared with those of C₆₀. Although the two distorted π-electron molecules have different symmetry of both molecular and crystal structures, sumanene thin films exhibited giant Seebeck coefficients (>30 mV/K) similar to C₆₀. A characteristic thermal transport in sumanene crystals was also found, where favorable electrical and thermal conducting directions are orthogonal to each other.

Excess PbI₂ addition to the perovskite CH₃NH₃PbI₃(Cl) precursor solutions resulted in increase of the conversion efficiencies of the perovskite solar cells. The recombination between a hole and an electron would be suppressed by the PbI₂ formation, and the fill factor and short-circuit current density were increased.

An efficient σ-Lewis acidic Ag(I) complex has been obtained by complexation with an electron-donating π-conjugated molecule as a side-on π ligand. The σ-Lewis acidity is possibly derived from the controlled linear coordination around Ag(I) due to the π ligand. A combination of UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near-edge structure analyses clearly revealed that the complex is formed by π ligand-to-Ag(I) charge-transfer interaction. The σ-Lewis acidity was evaluated by IR spectroscopy using 2,6-dimethyl-γ-pyrone as the σ-Lewis basic molecule.

We have developed a new photochromic material containing a stilbene moiety and a urea moiety based on the molecular design involved in photoisomerization and proton transfer. An anthracene–urea–stilbene compounds exhibited cis-to-trans one-way photoisomerization. In addition, we succeeded in the control between mutual and cis-to-trans one-way photoisomerization by the addition of TBAF.

Electropolymerization of 3-methoxythiophene in the presence of tetramethylammonium tetrafluoroborate produced gold-like lustrous films with a higher yellowish tone and specular reflectance as compared to the previously reported films prepared in the presence of lithium perchlorate. The present films contribute not only to the design of coatings but also to enginnering applications such as energy conservation and forgery prevention.

A novel magnetic stable and recyclable Pd/Fe₃O₄/g-C₃N₄ with approachable active palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) based on the platelet-like graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C₃N₄) was designed and synthesised. It displays excellent catalytic activity to reduction of 4-nitrophenol and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction and high turnover frequency (at least 5 runs) with retention of high catalytic activity.

We prepared TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂/CuO bilayer-type photocatalyst film and carried out the photodeposition of Ag to identify the reduction sites. We found that in TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ (CuO) boundary, deposition occurred preferentially on the side of TiO₂. This phenomenon can be explained by semiconductor physics principle, not by the classical theory of the interparticle electron transfer.

Monodisperse LiCoO₂ hollow particles were prepared by membrane emulsification using ordered anodic porous alumina. An aqueous solution containing metal salts and a chelating agent was used as the dispersed phase for the emulsification. The uniform-sized emulsion droplets formed by membrane emulsification were solidified on a filter membrane by drying in air. LiCoO₂ hollow particles were formed by calcination of the precursor particles.

A novel photocleavable and polymerizable oligopeptide has been prepared. Radical copolymerization of this peptide with vinyl monomer produces graft-type peptide-polymer hybrid whose bioactivity can be controlled by light. UV irradiation to the resultant peptide/PHEMA hybrid film enables 2D-patterning of bioactive peptides that can guide cell behavior.

We describe the first investigation into the influence of the crystal structure of AuRu₃ alloy nanoparticles (NPs) on their thermal stability and catalytic properties. The hcp-AuRu₃ alloy NPs show better thermal stability than the fcc-AuRu₃ alloy NPs. Both fcc- and hcp-AuRu₃ alloy NPs show onset potentials comparable to Ru NPs. However, the hcp alloy NPs show higher durability than the fcc alloy NPs.

A silver-mediated free-radical cascade cyclization of isocyanides with potassium alkyl trifluoroborates was developed. The procedure tolerates a series of functional groups, including chloro, bromo, ester, ketone, and amide. Additionally, it is not sensitive to steric hindrance. Thus, this reaction represents a very useful strategy for the production of 6-alkylated phenanthridine derivatives.

Soil acidification which occurs in the surface sediments of Majuro Atoll promotes selective dissolution of Mg-calcite, which compose the foraminifera (Calcarina spp.) tests. Corroboration by X-ray µ-CT and ImageJ makes it possible to quantify the volume of avoids of Calcarina spp. This technic can also be applied to evaluation of the influence of ocean acidification to small aquatic organisms.

A reaction of benzosilacyclobutenes with carbon dioxide is catalyzed by a nickel complex having an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand. Carbon dioxide inserts into the C(sp²)–Si bond in a site- and regio-selective manner to form a carbon–carbon bond, furnishing benzoic acid derivatives after hydrolysis.

Reductive decyanation reactions of malononitriles were achieved with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane as a radical mediator. The reaction proceeds via a radical chain mechanism involving a silyl radical addition to the malononitrile to form an imidoyl radical followed by α-cleavage to give a silyl isocyanide and an α-cyano radical. The reaction of a 3-butenyl-substituted malononitrile afforded a decyano/cyanosilylation product in good yield through 1,4-cyano transfer.

Herein, we report the metal induced hydrogelation of perylene derivatives. The subtle effect of metal ions which not only help perylene derivatives to generate nanofibers, but also induce molecular chirality of perylene moieties to microscopic level, results helical fiber formation.

Aliphatic polycarbonate (APC) macroinitiators bearing an α-haloester terminal group were successfully prepared by cobalt-catalyzed epoxide/carbon-dioxide copolymerization in the presence of α-halocarboxylic acids as chain transfer agents. The atom transfer radical polymerization of vinyl monomers, such as methyl methacrylate and styrene, from the obtained APC macroinitiators gave the corresponding APC-block-polyalkylene copolymers.

The amidation reaction of carboxylic acid derivatives was developed by using the sulfur-trioxide pyridine complex (SO₃·py) as a commercially available and easily handled oxidant. This method could be applied for the reaction of various aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids, including optically active ones, with formamide derivatives to afford the corresponding amides in good to high yields.

Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) have been fabricated from various star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomers. The PEM prepared from the 4-arm star macromonomer network revealed the lowest T_g, and the highest mechanical properties relative to those prepared from 3-arm and linear macromonomers. The PEM based on the 4-arm PEG showed the highest ionic conductivity and also good capacity retention.

The interpenetrating polymer network gel were prepared by poly(N-vinylacetamide) and poly(N-vinylisobutyramide). This swelleing ratios of the gels changed by temperature. The gel also showed the reversible adsorption and desorption of Rhodamine B. In this study, dynamic adsorption and desorption of Rodamin with the interpenetrating polymer network was investigated.

A highly stereoselective Michael addition of α-amino acid-derived 2-benzyloxythiazol-5(4H)-ones to dimethyl allenedicarboxylate was developed by employing P-spiro chiral triaminoiminophosphorane bearing (S)-sec-butyl groups as a catalyst. Theoretical investigation of the transition-state models for the reaction and control experiments suggested the intervention of a dynamic kinetic resolution of the axially chiral allene acceptor.

Water dispersible metal complex nanoparticles were synthesized by using the polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating method. The χ_mT values at room temperature for the NPs for 1–3 were determined by the Evans method, and the Proton relaxation times, T1 and T2 were measured by MRI. The proton relaxation times decreased as the χ_mT value increased.

Novel liquid-crystalline N,N′-diarylsquaramides were synthesized, and their properties were elucidated. The squaramides exhibited thermotropic columnar liquid-crystalline phases at low temperature including room temperature by supramolecular self-assembly. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the model showed the self-assembly of face-to-faced dimer through π–π interaction. We anticipate that squaramide would be useful core structure to develop a new type of soft materials with unique properties.