Ultrathin 2D Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets In situ Interpenetrated by Functional CNTs for Hybrid Energy Storage Device

Central Metal-Triggered Structural Transformation of a 2D Layered MOF: Mechanistic Studies and Applications

The structural transformation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has attracted increasing interests, which has not only produced various new structures but also served as a fantastic platform for MOF-based kinetic analysis. Multiple reaction conditions have been documented to cause structural transformation; nevertheless, central metal-induced topological alteration of MOFs is rare. Herein, we reported a structural transformation of a 2D layered Cd-MOF driven by Cd(II) ions. After being submerged in the aqueous solution of cadmium nitrate, the twofold interpenetrated 2D network of [Cd(hsb-2)(bdc)·5H2O]n [HSB-W10; bdc: 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate; hsb-2:1,2-bis(4'-pyridylmethylamino)-ethane] was converted into a novel noninterpenetrated 2D network [Cd1.5(hsb-2)(bdc)1.5(H2O)2·H2O]n (HSB-W16). This partial dissolution-recrystallization process was investigated by integrating controlled experiments, 1H NMR spectra, and photographic tracking analysis. Furthermore, a novel strategy combining in situ multicomponent dye encapsulation and central metal-triggered structural transformation was developed for the fabrication of MOF materials with white-light emission. By adopting this strategy, different dye guest molecules were concurrently introduced into the HSB-W16 host matrix, leading to a range of white-light-emitting MOF composites. This work will enable detailed studies of solid-state transformations and demonstrate a promising application prospect for structural transformation.

Ultraflexible Ultrathin 3D/1D Hierarchical Interpenetrating Ni-MOF/CNT Buckypaper Composites: Microstructures and Microwave Absorption Properties

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted attention due to their designable structures. However, recently reported MOF microwave-absorbing materials (MAMs) are dominated by powders. It remains a challenge to design MOF/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite structures that combine the mechanical properties of self-supporting flexibility with excellent microwave absorption. This work involves the hydrothermal approach to grow Ni-MOF of different microstructures in situ on the CNT monofilament by adjusting the molar ratio of nickel ions to organic ligands. Subsequently, an ultraflexible self-supporting Ni-MOF/CNT buckypaper (BP) is obtained by directional gas pressure filtration technology. The BP porous skeleton and the Ni-MOF with a unique porous structure provide effective impedance matching. The CNTs contribute to the conduction loss, the cross-scale heterogeneous interface generated by Ni-MOF/CNT BP provides rich interfacial polarization loss, and the porous structure complicates the microwave propagation path. All factors work together to give Ni-MOF/CNT BP an excellent microwave absorption capacity. The minimum reflection losses of Ni-MOF/CNT BPs decorated with granular-, hollow porous prism-, and porous prism-shaped Ni-MOFs reach -50.8, -57.8, and -43.3 dB, respectively. The corresponding effective absorption bandwidths are 4.5, 6.3, and 4.8 GHz, respectively. Furthermore, BPs show remarkable flexibility as they can be wound hundreds of times around a glass rod with a diameter of 4 mm without structural damage. This work presents a new concept for creating ultraflexible self-supported MOF-based MAMs with hierarchical interpenetrating porous structures, with potential application advantages in the field of flexible electronics.

M-Ni-Co MOF (M=Zn, Fe, Mn) for high-performance supercapacitors by adjusting its morphology

Metal-organic frameworks (MOF) have been wildly synthesised and studied as electrode materials for supercapacitors, and bimetallic MOF of Ni and Co has been broadly studied to enhance both specific capacitance and stability of supercapacitors. Herein, a best performance (about 320 F/g) of Ni-Co bimetallic MOF was found in a uniform preparation condition by adjusting the ratio of Ni to Co. Then tiny third metal ion was introduced, and we found that the morphology of material has a significant change on the original basis. Furthermore, certain ions (Zn, Fe, Mn) introduced make a huge improvement in capacitance based on Ni-Co MOF of 320 F/g. The result shows that Zn-Ni-Co MOF, Fe-Ni-Co MOF and Mn-Ni-Co MOF perform specific capacitance of 1135 F/g, 870 F/g and 760F/g at 1 A/g, respectively. Meanwhile, the asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was constructed by Zn-Ni-Co MOF as positive electrode and active carbon (AC) as negative electrode. The Zn-Ni-Co MOF//AC ASC possesses a energy density of 58 Wh/kg at a power density of 775 W/kg. This research provides a new methods to regulate the morphology of MOF and a novel viewpoint for assembling high-performance, low-price, and eco-friendly green energy storage devices.

Morphology regulation of conductive metal-organic frameworks in situ grown on graphene oxide for high-performance supercapacitors

In this work, nickel-catecholate (Ni-CAT) nanorods were in situ compounded on graphene oxide (GO) to form a composite Ni-CAT@GO (NCG) with a special "blanket-shape" structure, which was used as an electrode material for supercapacitors. The morphology of Ni-CATs in situ grown on GO was modulated by introducing various contents of GO. With increasing GO, the length of nanorods of Ni-CATs is obviously shortened, and the charge transfer resistance of NCG is significantly reduced as the GO content is relatively low while it increases with further addition of GO, because excessive GO in NCG results in smaller crystal sizes accompanied by smaller stacking pores. Both the over-long Ni-CAT nanorods and the smaller stacking pores can restrict the accessible surface areas for the electrolyte. Optimal nanorod sizes are crucial to achieve good electrochemical performance for electrode materials. Galvanostatic charge-discharge analysis of NCG electrodes shows that their capacity initially increases and then decreases with the addition of more and more GO, and Ni-CAT@GO-0.5 (NCG0.5) with minimal charge transfer resistance exhibits the best electrochemical performance. The results demonstrate that the NCG0.5 electrode with optimal morphology possesses an excellent capacitance of 563.8 F g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 and a good rate performance of 61.9% at 10 A g-1, indicating that Ni-CAT@GO is a new type of promising electrode material for supercapacitors based on conductive metal-organic frameworks.

A NiMOF integrated with conductive materials for efficient bifunctional electrocatalysis of urea oxidation and oxygen evolution reactions

The development of urea oxidation reaction (UOR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) bifunctional electrocatalysts has dual significance in promoting hydrogen energy production and urea-rich wastewater treatment. Herein, a carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT-COOH)-ferrocene carboxylic acid (Fc-COOH) modulated NiMOF hybrid material (MWCNT-NiMOF(Fc)) has been synthesized for dual electrocatalysis of the UOR and OER. The material characterization results indicated that MWCNT-COOH and Fc-COOH were integrated into the framework structure of the NiMOF. The direct interaction between the NiMOF and MWCNT/Fc facilitated electron transfer in the hybrid material and led to lattice strain, which improved the charge transfer kinetics, promoted the exposure of more unsaturated Ni sites, and increased the electrochemically active surface area. These factors together enhanced the electrocatalytic activity of MWCNT-NiMOF(Fc) towards the UOR and OER. Using a glassy carbon electrode as the substrate, MWCNT-NiMOF(Fc) exhibited low potential requirements, low Tafel slopes, and high stability. In overall urea and water splitting electrolysis cells, the excellent UOR and OER dual functional catalytic ability and enormous practical application potential of the MWCNT-NiMOF(Fc) modified foam nickel electrode were further demonstrated. On the basis of the above research, the influence of a KOH environment on urea electrolysis was further studied, and the urea electrolysis products were analyzed, promoting a more comprehensive understanding of the catalytic performance of MWCNT-NiMOF(Fc) for urea oxidation. This study provides a new approach for developing high-performance NiMOF-based electrocatalysts for challenging bifunctional UOR/OER applications, and has potential application value in hydrogen production from urea-containing wastewater electrolysis.

RGO-Induced Flower-like Ni-MOF In Situ Self-Assembled Electrodes for High-Performance Hybrid Supercapacitors

Currently, the primary bottlenecks that hinder the widespread application of supercapacitors are low energy density and narrow potential windows. Herein, the hybrid supercapacitor with high energy density and wide potential window is constructed via an in situ self-assembly method employing RGO-induced flower-like MOF(Ni). Benefiting from the synergistic effect between RGO and MOF(Ni), the interfacial interactions are effectively improved, and the contact area with the electrolyte is enhanced, which increases the ion transfer kinetics and overall electrochemical performance. The MOF(Ni)@RGO electrode exhibits a specific capacitance of 1267.73 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1. Crucially, the assembled MOF(Ni)@RGO//BC with a broad potential window and good stability employing a MOF(Ni)@RGO anode and biomass carbon cathode, combined with a 2 M PVA-KOH gel-electrolyte, achieves a maximum energy density of 70.16 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 2200.09 W kg-1, outperforming most reported supercapacitors. This hybrid supercapacitor exhibits excellent stability and high energy density, providing a novel strategy for further large-scale applications.

A Bioinspired Flexible Sensor for Electrochemical Probing of Dynamic Redox Disequilibrium in Cancer Cells

Malignant tumors pose a serious risk to human health. Ascorbic acid (AA) has potential for tumor therapy; however, the mechanism underlying the ability of AA to selectively kill tumor cells remains unclear. AA can cause redox disequilibrium in tumor cells, resulting in the release of abundant reactive oxygen species, represented by hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ). Therefore, the detection of H2 O2 changes can provide insight into the selective killing mechanism of AA against tumor cells. In this work, inspired by the ion-exchange mechanism in coral formation, a flexible H2 O2 sensor (PtNFs/CoPi@CC) is constructed to monitor the dynamics of H2 O2 in the cell microenvironment, which exhibits excellent sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution. Moreover, the findings suggest that dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), the oxidation product of AA, is highly possible the substance that actually acts on tumor cells in AA therapy. Additionally, the intracellular redox disequilibrium and H2 O2 release caused by DHA are positively correlated with the abundance and activity of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1). In conclusion, this work has revealed the potential mechanism underlying the ability of AA to selectively kill tumor cells through the construction and use of PtNFs/CoPi@CC. The findings provide new insights into the clinical application of AA.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for energy production and gaseous fuel and electrochemical energy storage applications

The increasing energy demands in society and industrial sectors have inspired the search for alternative energy sources that are renewable and sustainable, also driving the development of clean energy storage and delivery systems. Various solid-state materials (e.g., oxides, sulphides, polymer and conductive nanomaterials, activated carbon and their composites) have been developed for energy production (water splitting-H2 production), gaseous fuel (H2 and CH4) storage and electrochemical energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors) applications. Nevertheless, the low surface area, pore volume and conductivity, and poor physical and chemical stability of the reported materials have resulted in higher requirements and challenges in the development of energy production and energy storage technologies. Thus, to overcome these issues, the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has attracted significant attention. MOFs are a class of porous materials with extremely high porosity and surface area, structural diversity, multifunctionality, and chemical and structural stability, and thus they can be used in a wide range of applications. In the present review, we precisely discuss the interesting properties of MOFs and the various methodologies for their synthesis, and also the future dependence on the valorization of solid waste for the recovery of metals and organic ligands for the synthesis of new classes of MOFs. Subsequently, the utilization of these interesting characteristics for energy production (water splitting), storage of gaseous fuels (H2 and CH4), and electrochemical storage (batteries and supercapacitors) applications are described. However, although MOFs are efficient materials with versatile uses, they still have many challenges, limiting their practical applications. Therefore, finally, we highlight the challenges associated with MOFs and show the way forward in overcoming them for the development of these highly porous materials with large-scale practical utility.

Azo-Linkage Redox Metal-Organic Framework Incorporating Carbon Nanotubes for High-Performance Aqueous Energy Storage

The design of well-defined hierarchical free-standing electrodes for robust high-performance energy storage is challenging. We report herein that azo-linkage redox metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) incorporate single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as flexible electrodes. The in situ-guided growth, crystallinity and morphology of UiO-66-NO2 MOFs were finely controlled in the presence of CNTs. The MOFs' covalent anchoring to CNTs and solvothermal grafting anthraquinone (AQ) pendants endow the hybrid (denoted as CNT@UiO-66-AQ) with greatly improved conductivity, charge storage pathways and electrochemical dynamics. The flexible CNT@UiO-66-AQ displays a highest areal specific capacitance of 302.3 mF cm-2 (at 1 mA cm-2) in -0.4~0.9 V potential window, together with 100% capacitance retention over 5000 cycles at 5 mA cm-2. Its assembled symmetrical supercapacitor (SSC) achieves a maximum energy density of 0.037 mWh cm-2 and a maximum power density of 10.4 mW cm-2, outperforming many MOFs-hybrids-based SSCs in the literature. Our work may open a new avenue for preparing azo-coupled redox MOFs hybrids with carbaneous substrates for high-performance robust aqueous energy storage.

Ni-Carbon Microtube/Polytetrafluoroethylene as Flexible Electrothermal Microwave Absorbers

Flexible microwave absorbers with Joule heating performance are urgently desired to meet the demands of extreme service environments. Herein, a type of flexible composite film is constructed by homogeneously dispersing a hierarchical Ni-carbon microtube (Ni/CMT) into a processable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) matrix. The Ni/CMT are interconnected into a 3D conductive network, in which the huge interior cavity of the carbon microtube (CMT) improves impedance matching and provides additional hyper channels for electromagnetic (EM) waves dissipation, and the hierarchical magnetic Ni nanoparticles enhance the synergistic interactions between confined heterogeneous interfaces. Such an ingenious structure endows the composites with excellent electrothermal performance and improves their serviceability for application under extreme environments. Moreover, under a low fill loading of 3 wt.%, the Ni/CMT/PTFE (NCP) can achieve excellent low-frequency microwave absorption (MA) property with a minimum reflection loss of -59.12 dB at 5.92 GHz, which covers almost the entire C-band. Relying on their brilliant MA property, an EM sensor is designed and achieved by the resonance coupling of the patterned NCP. This work opens up a new way for the design of next-generation microwave absorbers that meet the requirements of EM packaging, proofing water and removing ice, fire safety, and health monitoring.

Ultrathin Cobalt-Based Prussian Blue Analogue Nanosheet-Assembled Nanoboxes Interpenetrated with Carbon Nanotubes as a Fast Electron/Potassium-Ion Conductor for Superior Potassium Storage

Rechargeable potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are regarded as potential substitutes for industrial lithium-ion batteries in large scale energy storage systems due to the world's abundant potassium supplies. Althogh cobalt hexacyanocobaltate (CoHCC) exhibits broad potential as a PIB anode material, its performance is currently unsatisfactory. Herein, novel 5 nm scale ultrathin CoHCC nanosheet-assembled nanoboxes with interspersed carbon nanotubes (CNTs/CoHCC nanoboxes) are fabricated to realize a highly reactive PIB anode. The ultrathin CoHCC layers substantially accelerate electron conduction and provide numerous active sites, while the connected CNTs provide fast axial electron transport. Consequently, the optimized anode exhibits a remarkable discharge capacity of 580.9 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and long-term stability with 71.3% retention over 1000 cycles. In situ and ex situ characterizations and density functional theory calculations are further employed to elucidate the K+ storage process and the reason for the enhanced performance of the CNTs/CoHCC nanoboxes.

Oxygen-doped NiCoP derived from Ni-MOFs for high performance asymmetric supercapacitor

Oxygen doping strategy is one of the most effective methods to improve the electrochemical properties of nickel-cobalt phosphide (NiCoP)-based capacitors by adjusting its inherent electronic structure. In this paper, O-doped NiCoP microspheres derived from porous nanostructured nickel metal-organic frameworks (Ni-MOFs) were constructed through solvothermal method followed by phosphorization treatment. The O-doping concentration has a siginificant influence on the rate performance and cycle stability. The optimized O-doped NiCoP electrode material shows a specific capacitance of 632.4 F-g-1at 1 A-g-1and a high retention rate of 56.9% at 20 A g-1. The corresponding NiCoP-based asymmetric supercapacitor exhibits a high energy density of 30.1 Wh kg-1when the power density is 800.9 W kg-1, and can still maintain 82.1% of the initial capacity after 10 000 cycles at 5 A g-1.

Alveoli-Like Multifunctional Scaffolds for Optical and Electrochemical In Situ Monitoring of Cellular Responses from Type II Pneumocytes

While breathing, alveoli are exposed to external irritants, which contribute to the pathogenesis of lung disease. Therefore, in situ monitoring of alveolar responses to stimuli of toxicants under in vivo environments is important to understand lung disease. For this purpose, 3D cell cultures are recently employed for examining cellular responses of pulmonary systems exposed to irritants; however, most of them have used ex situ assays requiring cell lysis and fluorescent labeling. Here, an alveoli-like multifunctional scaffold is demonstrated for optical and electrochemical monitoring of cellular responses of pneumocytes. Porous foam with dimensions like the alveoli structure is used as a backbone for the scaffold, wherein electroactive metal-organic framework crystals, optically active gold nanoparticles, and biocompatible hyaluronic acid are integrated. The fabricated multifunctional scaffold allows for label-free detection and real-time monitoring of oxidative stress released in pneumocytes under toxic-conditions via redox-active amperometry and nanospectroscopy. Moreover, cellular behavior can be statistically classified based on fingerprint Raman signals collected from the cells on the scaffold. The developed scaffold is expected to serve as a promising platform to investigate cellular responses and disease pathogenesis, owing to its versatility in monitoring electrical and optical signals from cells in situ in the 3D microenvironments.

Recent advancements in zero- to three-dimensional carbon networks with a two-dimensional electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors

Supercapacitors have gained significant attention owing to their exceptional performance in terms of energy density and power density, making them suitable for various applications, such as mobile devices, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage systems. This review focuses on recent advancements in the utilization of 0-dimensional to 3-dimensional carbon network materials as electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitor devices. This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the potential of carbon-based materials in enhancing the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors. The combination of these materials with other cutting-edge materials, such as Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs), MXenes, Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), Black Phosphorus (BP), and perovskite nanoarchitectures, has been extensively studied to achieve a wide operating potential window. The combination of these materials synchronizes their different charge-storage mechanisms to attain practical and realistic applications. The findings of this review indicate that hybrid composite electrodes with 3D structures exhibit the best potential in terms of overall electrochemical performance. However, this field faces several challenges and promising research directions. This study aimed to highlight these challenges and provide insights into the potential of carbon-based materials in supercapacitor applications.

Pouch-Type Asymmetric Supercapacitor Based on Nickel-Cobalt Metal-Organic Framework

Bimetal-organic frameworks (BMOFs) have attracted considerable attention as electrode materials for energy storage devices because of the precise control of their porous structure, surface area, and pore volume. BMOFs can promote multiple redox reactions because of the enhanced charge transfer between different metal ions. Therefore, the electroactivity of the electrodes can be significantly improved. Herein, we report a NiCo-MOF (NCMF) with a three-dimensional hierarchical nanorod-like structure prepared using a facile solvo-hydrothermal method. The as-prepared NCMF was used as the positive electrode in a hybrid pouch-type asymmetric supercapacitor device (HPASD) with a gel electrolyte (KOH+PVA) and activated carbon as the negative electrode. Because of the matchable potential windows and specific capacitances of the two electrodes, the assembled HPASD exhibits a specific capacitance of 161 F·g^-1 at 0.5 A·g^-1, an energy density of 50.3 Wh·kg^-1 at a power density of 375 W·kg^-1, and a cycling stability of 87.6% after 6000 cycles. The reported unique synthesis strategy is promising for producing high-energy-density electrode materials for supercapacitors.

In Situ Growth of Ni-MOF Nanorods Array on Ti3C2Tx Nanosheets for Supercapacitive Electrodes

For the energy supply of smart and portable equipment, high performance supercapacitor electrode materials are drawing more and more concerns. Conductive Ni-MOF is a class of materials with higher conductivity compared with traditional MOFs, but it continues to lack stability. Specifically, MXene (Ti3C2Tx) has been employed as an electrochemical substrate for its high mechanical stability and abundant active sites, which can be combined with MOFs to improve its electrochemical performance. In this paper, a novel Ni-MOF nanorods array/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposite was prepared via a facile hydrothermal reaction, which makes good use of the advantages of conductive Ni-MOF and high strength Ti3C2Tx. The high density forest-like Ni-MOF array in situ grown on the surface of Ti3C2Tx can provide abundant active electrochemical sites and construct a pathway for effective ion transport. The formation of a "Ti-O···Ni" bond accomplished during an in situ growth reaction endows the strong interfacial interaction between Ni-MOF and Ti3C2Tx. As a result, the Ni-MOF/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposite can achieve a high specific capacitance of 497.6 F·g-1 at 0.5 A·g-1 and remain over 66% of the initial capacitance when the current density increases five times. In addition, the influence of the Ti3C2Tx concentration and reaction time on the morphology and performance of the resultant products were also investigated, leading to a good understanding of the formation process of the nanocomposite and the electrochemical mechanism for a supercapacitive reaction.

Electrified nanohybrid filter for enhanced phosphorus removal from water

Phosphorus (P) has been identified as a major cause of eutrophication. One feasible way to deal with P-containing wastewater is to employ advanced adsorbents with high P affinity. Towards this end, the loading of these sorbents onto a conductive scaffold would facilitate the introduction of an electric field into the reaction system thereby permitting a continuous-flow operation and improved P sorption kinetics. Here, the preparation and evaluation of an electroactive carbon nanotube (CNT) filter functionalized with cerium-based metal organic frameworks (Ce-MOF) is reported. Various advanced characterization techniques confirmed the successful fabrication of the Ce-MOF/CNT nanohybrid filter. The results suggested that the nanohybrid filter had a maximum P adsorption capacity of 22.41 mg g^-1, which compared favorably with other state-of-the-art P sorbents. Ce-MOF loading, applied voltage and flow rate each increased the rate constants for phosphate removal by factors of 1.6, 2.1 and 5.8 times relative to the absent states. The underlying P sorption mechanisms involved outer-sphere surface complexation (electrostatic attraction), inner-sphere surface complexation (Ce-O-P) and diffusion. The performance was tolerant of a wide operational pH range and different water matrices. The Ce-MOF/CNT electrochemical filter described in this study provides a viable strategy to address the challenging issues associated with aqueous P pollution.

Lotus-like Ni@NiO nanoparticles embedded porous carbon derived from MOF-74/cellulose nanocrystal hybrids as solid phase microextraction coating for ultrasensitive determination of chlorobenzenes from water

Lotus-like Ni@NiO embedded porous carbons (Ni@NiO/PCs) were fabricated by pyrolysis of MOF-74/cellulose nanocrystal hybrids, and used as a solid phase microextraction (SPME) coating for ultrasensitive determination of chlorobenzenes (CBs) from water combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Owing to its abundant chemical groups, high porosity, and excellent thermal stability, the as-prepared Ni@NiO/PCs presented superior extraction performance compared to commercial SPME coatings. Notably, Ni@NiO/PCs derived from MOF-74/CNC hybrids presented higher extraction efficiencies towards CBs than that derived from pristine CNC and MOF-74 due to the formation of micro/mesopores and more abundant oxygen-containing groups. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the proposed analytical method presented wide linearity range (0.5-1500 ng L^-1), ultra-low detection of limit (0.005-0.049 ng L^-1), and excellent precision with relative standard deviations of 4.7-9.2% for a single fiber and 8.8-10.9% for 5 fibers, and long lifetime (≥160 times). The proposed analytical method was finally applied for determination of CBs from real water samples, and the recoveries were in the range of 93.2-116.8% towards eight CBs. This study delivered a novel and efficient sorbent as SPME coating to extraction and determination of CBs from water.

Metal–organic framework functionalized sulphur doped graphene: a promising platform for selective and sensitive electrochemical sensing of acetaminophen, dopamine and H2O2

We present a simple in situ self-assembly approach for crafting a heteroatom doped graphene supported MOF nanocomposite with excellent potential for selective and sensitive electrochemical sensing of clinically important molecules.

Grafting of the gold surface by heterocyclic moieties derived through electrochemical oxidation of amino triazole – an experimental and “ab initio” study

Surface modification of gold is accomplished by using the aminyl radicals formed through the electrochemical oxidation of the amino-triazole molecule dissolved in organic media (acetonitrile). The electrochemistry of the grafting process and the redox behavior of the grafted heterocyclic layer are similar to those of aliphatic amines. The presence of AT groups on the electrode surface was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) before and after the functionalization process to confirm and prove the formation of a layer on the surface. The capability of the modified surfaces for blocking redox reaction was assessed using a ferrocyanide–ferricyanide redox couple and displayed important differences. The redox probes display a decrease in electron transfer rate. The increase of the charge transfer resistance of the grafted layer is suggestive of a compact layer formation. Furthermore, the Au13 cluster was used to compute BDEs (bond dissociation energies) and a number of other important parameters such as bond strength and length of the interface, etc. These parameters were computed using ONTEP software (Order-N Total Energy Package), intended specifically for calculations on large systems, and it employs density functional theory (DFT) in the density matrix formulation.

Surface modification of gold is accomplished by using the aminyl radicals formed through the electrochemical oxidation of the amino-triazole molecule dissolved in organic media (acetonitrile).

Carbon Nanotube Based Metal-Organic Framework Hybrids From Fundamentals Toward Applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) materials constructed by the coordination chemistry of metal ions and organic ligands are important members of the crystalline materials family. Owing to their exceptional properties, for example, high porosity, tunable pore size, and large surface area, MOFs have been applied in several fields such as gas or liquid adsorbents, sensors, batteries, and supercapacitors. However, poor conductivity and low stability hamper their potential applications in several attractive fields such as energy and gas storage. The integration of MOFs with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a well-established carbon allotrope that exhibits high conductivity and stability, has been proposed as an efficient strategy to overcome such limitations. By combining the advantages of MOFs and CNTs, a wide variety of composites can be prepared with properties superior to their parent materials. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the preparation of CNT@MOF composites and focuses on their recent applications in several important fields, such as water purification, gas storage and separation, sensing, electrocatalysis, and energy storage (supercapacitors and batteries). Future challenges and prospects for CNT@MOF composites are also discussed.

One step synthesis of a bimetallic (Ni and Co) metal–organic framework for the efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of water and hydrazine

A series of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with varying Ni : Co ratios are synthesized by an easy one-step solvothermal method using trimesic acid as an organic linker.

Cu-Organic framework-derived V-doped carbon nanostructures for organic dye removal

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as a type of uniformly and periodically atom-distributed precursor and efficient self-sacrificial template to fabricate hierarchical porous-carbon-related nanostructured functional materials. In this work, we used Cu(II) ions and aromatic dicarboxylic acid to construct [Cu₃(4,4'-oba)₂(μ₂-OH)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (4,4'-H₂oba = 4,4'-oxybisbenzoic acid) as a precursor for the preparation of carbon nanostructures. Doping foreign elements into intrinsic MOF-based nanomaterials is an effective way to enhance the adsorption property and photocatalytic activity; thus, we designed a facile method to synthesize a vanadium-doped mixture of Cu₂O and Cu nanoparticles encapsulated in a Cu-MOF-derived carbon nanostructure (C-V-1) in this work for the first time. Benefiting from the protection of the carbon shell and regulation of the electronic structure by doping vanadium and phase-mixing Cu₂O and Cu, the adsorption capacities of C-V-1 for MB, RhB, MO, CR and GV at room temperature are 174.13, 147.06, 179.92, 275.90 and 611.81 mg g^-1 in 240 min, respectively, while the photocatalytic degradation rates are 88.14% for MB, 79.80% for RhB, 71.31% for MO, and 71.19% for CR after 4 h. In addition, the degradation rate is larger than 99.01% for GV after only 30 min of UV irradiation. This strategy of using a diverse MOF as a structural and compositional material to create a multifunctional composite/hybrid may expand the opportunities to explore highly efficient, fast and robust adsorbents and photocatalysts for water treatment.

Atomic/molecular layer deposition of Ni-terephthalate thin films

Atomic/molecular layer deposition (ALD/MLD) is currently strongly emerging as an intriguing route for novel metal-organic thin-film materials. This approach already covers a variety of metal and organic components, and potential applications related to e.g. sustainable energy technologies. Among the 3d metal components, nickel has remained unexplored so far. Here we report a robust and efficient ALD/MLD process for the growth of high-quality nickel terephthalate thin films. The films are deposited from Ni(thd)₂ (thd: 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) and terephthalic acid (1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid) precursors in the temperature range of 180-280 °C, with appreciably high growth rates up to 2.3 Å per cycle at 200 °C. The films are amorphous but the local structure and chemical state of the films are addressed based on XRR, FTIR and RIXS techniques.

Two-dimensional MOFs: Design & Synthesis and Applications

For the past few years, two-dimensional materials have attracted widespread attention owing to their special properties and potential applications. It is well-known that graphene, transition metal disulfide compounds (TMDC), carbon nitride, transition metal carbonitrides (Mxenes), silene and hexagonal boron nitride are typical two-dimensional materials. Compared with these traditional two-dimensional materials, two-dimensional MOF is favored by numerous researchers because of its unique structure. Based on the unique metal ion and organic ligand coordination of MOF and two-dimensional layered structure, the applications of two-dimensional MOF were getting serious, including catalysis, supercapacitor, gas adsorption/separation, sensors and so on. This review presents a relatively comprehensive summary of the design & synthesis and applications of two-dimensional MOF over the past few years. Furthermore, the opportunities and challenges have been discussed to supply a promising prospect to this field.

The intergrated nanostructure of bimetallic CoNi-based zeolitic imidazolate framework and carbon nanotubes as high-performance electrochemical supercapacitors

In this study, a series of one-dimensional (1D)/two-dimensional (2D) heterostructure hybrids were fabricated through the in situ growth of a Co and Ni bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate framework (CoNi-ZIF) around N-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs). The hybrids were further exploited as effective supercapacitor materials. The N-CNTs were prepared by carbonizing a mixture of glucose and the melamine-cyanuric acid complex at a high temperature (900 °C) under N₂ atmosphere and applied as the template for the in situ synthesis of CoNi-ZIF nanosheets (NSs). The 1D N-CNTs in the hybrids can act as the high-way for charge transfer to boost the faradaic reactions. Changing the usage of metal precursors not only provided abundant redox reaction sites in 2D CoNi-ZIF NSs but also modulated the microstructures and chemical components of the hybrids. The integration of the features of N-CNTs and CoNi-ZIF NSs can result in a synergistic effect between N-CNTs and CoNi-ZIF NSs. Therefore, the obtained CoNi-ZIFs and N-CNTs hybrid (CoNi-ZIF@N-CNT) exhibited superior electrochemical capacitive performance. Comparison revealed that the CoNi-ZIF@N-CNT-2 hybrid, which was prepared with a 1:1 mass ratio of Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O, displayed the largest specific capacitance of 1118F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1, which was higher than the capacitance of most reported metal-organic framework (MOF)-based supercapacitor electrodes. Moreover, the asymmetric supercapacitor based on the CoNi-ZIF@N-CNT-2 electrode exhibited a high energy density of 51.1 Wh kg^-1 at the power density of 860.1 W kg^-1 and good cycle stability. This work can provide a facile and effective way for the fabrication of heterostructured 1D/2D nanostructures based on 2D MOFs for advanced energy storage.

Recent progress on pristine two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks as active components in supercapacitors

Two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a new generation of 2D materials that can provide uniform active sites and unique open channels as well as excellent catalytic abilities, interesting magnetic properties, and reasonable electrical conductivities. Thus, these MOFs are uniquely qualified for use in applications in energy-related fields or portable devices because they possess fast charge and discharge ability, high power density, and ultralong cycle life factors. There has been worldwide research interest in 2D conducting MOFs, and numerous techniques and strategies have been developed to synthesize these MOFs and their derivatives. Thus, this is the opportune time to review recent research progress on the development of 2D MOFs as electrodes in supercapacitors. This review covers synthetic design strategies, electrochemical performances, and working mechanisms. We will divide these 2D MOFs into two types on the basis of their conductive aspects: 2D conductive MOFs and 2D layered MOFs (including pillar-layered MOFs and 2D nanosheets). The challenges and perspectives of 2D MOFs are also provided.

3D Seed-Germination-Like MXene with In Situ Growing CNTs/Ni Heterojunction for Enhanced Microwave Absorption via Polarization and Magnetization

Benefiting from the possible "seed-germination" effect, the "seeds" Ni²⁺ grow into "buds" Ni nanoparticles and "stem" carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from the enlarged "soil" of MXene skeleton. Compared with the traditional magnetic agglomeration, the MXene-CNTs/Ni hybrids exhibit the highly spatial dispersed magnetic architecture. 3D MXene-CNTs/Ni composites hold excellent microwave absorption performance (-56.4 dB at only 2.4 mm). Ti₃C₂T_x MXene is widely regarded as a potential microwave absorber due to its dielectric multi-layered structure. However, missing magnetic loss capability of pure MXene leads to the unmatched electromagnetic parameters and unsatisfied impedance matching condition. Herein, with the inspiration from dielectric-magnetic synergy, this obstruction is solved by fabricating magnetic CNTs/Ni hetero-structure decorated MXene substrate via a facile in situ induced growth method. Ni²⁺ ions are successfully attached on the surface and interlamination of each MXene unit by intensive electrostatic adsorption. Benefiting from the possible "seed-germination" effect, the "seeds" Ni²⁺ grow into "buds" Ni nanoparticles and "stem" carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from the enlarged "soil" of MXene skeleton. Due to the improved impedance matching condition, the MXene-CNTs/Ni hybrid holds a superior microwave absorption performance of - 56.4 dB at only 2.4 mm thickness. Such a distinctive 3D architecture endows the hybrids: (i) a large-scale 3D magnetic coupling network in each dielectric unit that leading to the enhanced magnetic loss capability, (ii) a massive multi-heterojunction interface structure that resulting in the reinforced polarization loss capability, confirmed by the off-axis electron holography. These outstanding results provide novel ideas for developing magnetic MXene-based absorbers.

B/N-Enriched Semi-Conductive Polymer Film for Micro-Supercapacitors with AC Line-Filtering Performance

Microsupercapacitors (MSCs) have drawn great attention for use as miniaturized electrochemical energy storage devices in portable, wearable, as well as implantable electronics. Many materials have been developed as electrodes for MSCs. However, the thin-film fabrication for most of these materials involves multistep operations, including filtration, spray coating, and sputtering. Most importantly, these methods present challenges for the preparation of thin films at the atomic or molecular scale. Therefore, the understanding of performance of ultrathin-film-based MSCs remains challenge. Herein, a B/N-enriched polymer film is successfully prepared using the photoassisted interfacial approach. The as-synthesized polymer film exhibits typical semiconductive characteristics and can be easily scaled up to a large area of up to tens of square centimeters. This ultrathin polymer film can be directly transferred to silicon wafers to fabricate MSC through laser scribing. The prepared MSC exhibits specific volumetric capacitance as high as 20.9 F cm^-3, corresponding to volumetric energy density of 2.9 mWh cm^-3 (at 0.1 V s^-1). Moreover, the volumetric power density can reach 1461 W cm^-3, surpassing most existing semiconductive polymer film-based MSC devices. In addition, the prepared MSC exhibits typical AC line-filtering ability (-67° at 120 Hz). This study offers a facile interfacial approach to preparing semiconductive polymer films with aromatic moieties for microsized energy storage devices.

Non-Magnetic Bimetallic MOF-Derived Porous Carbon-Wrapped TiO2/ZrTiO4 Composites for Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Non-magnetic bimetallic MOF-derived porous carbon-wrapped TiO₂/ZrTiO₄ composites are firstly used for efficient electromagnetic wave absorption. The electromagnetic wave absorption mechanisms including enhanced interfacial polarization and essential conductivity are intensively discussed. Modern communication technologies put forward higher requirements for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption materials. Metal-organic framework (MOF) derivatives have been widely concerned with its diverse advantages. To break the mindset of magnetic-derivative design, and make up the shortage of monometallic non-magnetic derivatives, we first try non-magnetic bimetallic MOFs derivatives to achieve efficient EMW absorption. The porous carbon-wrapped TiO₂/ZrTiO₄ composites derived from PCN-415 (TiZr-MOFs) are qualified with a minimum reflection loss of - 67.8 dB (2.16 mm, 13.0 GHz), and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth of 5.9 GHz (2.70 mm). Through in-depth discussions, the synergy of enhanced interfacial polarization and other attenuation mechanisms in the composites is revealed. Therefore, this work confirms the huge potentials of non-magnetic bimetallic MOFs derivatives in EMW absorption applications.

Interface-Driven Multifunctionality in Two-Dimensional TiO2 Nanosheet/Poly(Dimercaptothiadiazole-Triazine) Hybrid Resistive Random Access Memory Device

Interface-driven multifunctional facets are gearing up in the field of science and technology. Here, we present the interface-activated resistive switching (RS), negative differential resistance, diode behavior, and ultraviolet (UV) light sensing in nanosheet-based hybrid devices. A hybrid device i.e., titanium dioxide nanosheet (TiO₂-NS)/poly(dimercaptothiadiazole-triazine)[Poly(DMcT-CC)] is fabricated by spin coating Poly(DMcT-CC) polymer on hydrothermally as-grown TiO₂-NS. The pristine devices of both materials show either small or no magnitude of RS, but the hybrid device shows highly enhanced RS of nearly four orders due to the formation of a p-n junction at the NS/polymer interface. The resistive random access memory feature appears to be more prominent in the hybrid device i.e., high and low current states are found to be stable in repetitive cycles since the interface acts as a trapping center for the carriers. The UV sensing ability of the hybrid device has been demonstrated by a threefold increment in a current at 60 mV. The impedance spectroscopy has been employed to show that the multifunctional features are directly associated to the NS/polymer interface, which deduce that the manipulation of such interfaces can pave the way for developing the hybrid structures.

Ultrathin Mn Doped Ni-MOF Nanosheet Array for Highly Capacitive and Stable Asymmetric Supercapacitor

In this study, we demonstrate that an Mn-doped ultrathin Ni-MOF nanosheet array on nickel foam (Mn_0.1 -Ni-MOF/NF) serves as a highly capacitive and stable supercapacitor positive electrode. The Mn_0.1 -Ni-MOF/NF shows an areal capacity of 6.48 C cm^-2 (specific capacity C: 1178 C g^-1 ) at 2 mA cm^-2 in 6.0 m KOH, outperforming most reported MOF-based materials. More importantly, it possesses excellent cycle stability to maintain 80.6 % capacity after 5000 cycles. An asymmetric supercapacitor device utilizing Mn_0.1 -Ni-MOF/NF as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode attains a high energy density of 39.6 Wh kg^-1 at 143.8 Wkg^-1 power density with a capacitance retention of 83.6 % after 5000 cycles.

Energy Harvesting from Brines by Reverse Electrodialysis Using Nafion Membranes

Ion exchange membranes (IEMs) have consolidated applications in energy conversion and storage systems, like fuel cells and battery separators. Moreover, in the perspective to address the global need for non-carbon-based and renewable energies, salinity-gradient power (SGP) harvesting by reverse electrodialysis (RED) is attracting significant interest in recent years. In particular, brine solutions produced in desalination plants can be used as concentrated streams in a SGP-RED stack, providing a smart solution to the problem of brine disposal. Although Nafion is probably the most prominent commercial cation exchange membrane for electrochemical applications, no study has investigated yet its potential in RED. In this work, Nafion 117 and Nafion 115 membranes were tested for NaCl and NaCl + MgCl2 solutions, in order to measure the gross power density extracted under high salinity gradient and to evaluate the effect of Mg2+ (the most abundant divalent cation in natural feeds) on the efficiency in energy conversion. Moreover, performance of commercial CMX (Neosepta) and Fuji-CEM 80050 (Fujifilm) cation exchange membranes, already widely applied for RED applications, were used as a benchmark for Nafion membranes. In addition, complementary characterization (i.e., electrochemical impedance and membrane potential test) was carried out on the membranes with the aim to evaluate the predominance of electrochemical properties in different aqueous solutions. In all tests, Nafion 117 exhibited superior performance when 0.5/4.0 M NaCl fed through 500 µm-thick compartments at a linear velocity 1.5 cm·s-1. However, the gross power density of 1.38 W·m-2 detected in the case of pure NaCl solutions decreased to 1.08 W·m-2 in the presence of magnesium chloride. In particular, the presence of magnesium resulted in a drastic effect on the electrochemical properties of Fuji-CEM-80050, while the impact on other membranes investigated was less severe.

Simultaneously Improved Thermal and Dielectric Performance of Epoxy Composites Containing Ti3C2Tx Platelet Fillers

Polymer composites with enhanced thermal and dielectric properties can be widely used in electric and energy related applications. In this work, epoxy composites have been prepared with Ti3C2Tx, one of the most studied MXene materials that can be massively produced by direct etching using hydrofluoric acid. The addition of conductive two dimensional Ti3C2Tx platelet fillers leads to improved but anisotropic thermal conductivity of the composites. The through-plane thermal conductivity reaches 0.583 Wm-1K-1 and the in-plane thermal conductivity reaches 1.29 Wm-1K-1 when filler content is 40 wt% (21.3 vol%), achieving enhancements of 2.92 times and 10.65 times respectively, as compared with epoxy matrix. The dielectric permittivity of epoxy composite is enhanced by a factor of ~2.25 with 40 wt% fillers, and the dielectric losses are within a small value of 0.02. The results prove the effectiveness of Ti3C2Tx in simultaneously improving thermal and dielectric performance of epoxy composites, and it is deduced that further improvements may be obtained by using Ti3C2Tx nanoflake fillers.

A review of recent work on using metal–organic frameworks to grow carbon nanotubes

In this review, we summarize catalysts and synthetic strategies for the synthesis of MOF-derived CNT-based composite materials.