Potassium Ions Induced Framework Interpenetration for Enhancing the Stability of Uranium-Based Porphyrin MOF with Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity

Design and Construction of the Uranyl Coordination Polymer with Multifunction Stimulus Response: Fluorescent Sensors for Halide Ions and Photochromism

It can provide ideas for the use of uranium elements in the treatment of spent fuel from nuclear wastewater to explore the application potential of uranium element. Thus, it is necessary to research the structure and properties of a novel uranyl coordination polymer (CP) for uranium recovery and reuse. Herein, we designed and prepared a new uranyl CP U-CMNDI based on UO22+ and H2CMNDI (H2CMNDI = N, N'-bis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenediimide). Structural analysis shows that two uranyl ions are connected by two parallel deprotonated CMNDI ligands to form a discrete uranyl dimer structure. U-CMNDI can act as a potential stimulus-responsive halide ion sensor by a fluorescence "turn on" response in water. The limit of detection for fluoride (F-), bromide (Br-), iodide (I-), and chloride (Cl-) is 5.00, 5.32, 5.49, and 5.73 μM, respectively. The fluorescence "turn on" behavior is based on the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism between halide ions and electron-deficient NDI cores. In addition, U-CMNDI demonstrates a color response to ultraviolet light, exhibiting reversible photochromic behavior with a notable color change. The color change mechanism can contribute to the PET process and the radical process.

Enhancing the photocatalytic performance of a rutile unit featuring a titanium-oxide cluster by Pb2+ doping

Titanium-oxide clusters (TOCs) are well-defined molecular models for TiO2 materials and provide the opportunity to study the structure-activity relationships of TiO2. Here, we report a new Pb-doped TOC, Ti12Pb2, which resembles a two-layer decker of the {TiTi6} structural units of rutile TiO2 with two Ti4+ ions replaced by two Pb2+ ions. Its electronic structure, photoresponse, and photocatalytic performances were investigated and compared with those of the Ti14 cluster, which is isostructural to Ti12Pb2. Our results indicate that Pb2+ does not affect the electronic structure, but it greatly enhances the photocatalytic activity by improving the charge-separation and interfacial charge-transfer properties of the TOC. The successful synthesis of Ti12Pb2 highlights the roles of closed-shell heterometal ions in the construction of new TOCs. Our mechanism may be an inspiration for understanding the structure-activity relationships of closed-shell heterometal-doped TiO2.

A cryptand-like Ti-coordination compound with visible-light photocatalytic activity in CO2 storage

A cryptand-like Ti-coordination compound, namely Ti12Cs, comprising two Ti6-salicylate cages and hosting two Cs+ ions, was synthesized by the solvothermal method. It exhibits strong visible-light absorption with an absorption band edge of 652 nm, attributed to the electron transition from salicylate ligands to Ti ions. Electrochemical impedance, visible-light transient photocurrent response, and photoluminescence spectra confirm that Ti12Cs has excellent visible-light response and charge-separation properties. Ti12Cs can be used as a heterogeneous and recyclable photocatalyst for CO2/epoxide cycloaddition, with high utilization efficiency of visible-light under mild conditions. The mechanism investigation points to a synergistic effect of photocatalysis and Lewis acid catalysis.

Ligation of Titanium-oxide and {Mo2} Units for Solar CO2 Storage

Two Mo-Ti-mixed oxide clusters, Ti6Mo4 and Ti4Mo4, which contain the {Mo2V} unit commonly observed in many polyoxomolybdates, were successfully synthesized. The introduction of a {Mo2V} dopant into a titanium-oxide cluster (TOC) results in a red shift of the absorption edge, hence leading to a substantial enhancement of visible-light absorption. The band gap electron transition mainly involves the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT, benzoate-to-Mo) and MoV d-d transition. Both clusters show favorable visible-light responsiveness and charge-separation efficiency. Both serve as heterogeneous photocatalysts and exhibit excellent catalytic activity in CO2/epoxide cycloadditions under very mild conditions. The mechanism study suggests that the catalytically active sites are mainly MoV, and the photogenerated electrons and holes are both involved. Ti6Mo4 exhibits better photocatalytic activity than Ti4Mo4, demonstrating the crucial role of the titanium-oxide core, which corresponds to improved light absorption and charge-separation efficiency. Our findings highlight the potential of the {Mo2V} unit in constructing Mo-Ti-mixed oxide clusters with interesting topologies and excellent solar-light-harvesting activity.

Th6-Based Multicomponent Heterometallic Metal-Organic Frameworks Featuring 6,12-Connected Topology for Iodine Adsorption

Its high coordination number and tendency to cluster make Th4+ suitable for constructing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with novel topologies. In this work, two novel thorium-based heterometallic MOF isomers (IHEP-17 and IHEP-18) were assembled from a Th6 cluster, a multifunctional organic ligand [4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzoic acid (HPyba)], and Cu2+/Ni2+ cations via the one-pot solvothermal synthesis strategy. The framework features a 6,12-connected new topology net and contains two kinds of supramolecular cage structures, Th36M4 and Th24M2, suitable for guest exchange. Both MOF materials can efficiently adsorb I2. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicate that the adsorbed iodine is uniformly distributed within the Th36M4 cage but not the Th24M2 cage in the form of I3-.

Thermally Induced Orderly Alignment of Porphyrin Photoactive Motifs in Metal-Organic Frameworks for Boosting Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Efficient transfer of charge carriers through a fast transport pathway is crucial to excellent photocatalytic reduction performance in solar-driven CO2 reduction, but it is still challenging to effectively modulate the electronic transport pathway between photoactive motifs by feasible chemical means. In this work, we propose a thermally induced strategy to precisely modulate the fast electron transport pathway formed between the photoactive motifs of a porphyrin metal-organic framework using thorium ion with large ionic radius and high coordination number as the coordination-labile metal node. As a result, the stacking pattern of porphyrin molecules in the framework before and after the crystal transformations has changed dramatically, which leads to significant differences in the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers in MOFs. The rate of photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO by IHEP-22(Co) reaches 350.9 μmol·h-1·g-1, which is 3.60 times that of IHEP-21(Co) and 1.46 times that of IHEP-23(Co). Photoelectrochemical characterizations and theoretical calculations suggest that the electron transport channels formed between porphyrin molecules inhibit the recombination of photogenerated carriers, resulting in high performance for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The interaction mechanism of CO2 with IHEP-22(Co) was clarified by using in-situ electron paramagnetic resonance, in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, in-situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations. These results provide a new method to regulate the efficient separation and migration of charge carriers in CO2 reduction photocatalysts and will be helpful to guide the design and synthesis of photocatalysts with superior performance for the production of solar fuels.

Inner transition metal-modulated metal organic frameworks (IT-MOFs) and their derived nanomaterials: a strategic approach towards stupendous photocatalysis

Photocatalysis, as an amenable and effective process, can be adopted for pollution remediation and to alleviate the ongoing energy crisis. In this case, recently, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted increasing attention in the field of photocatalysis owning to their unique characteristics including large specific surface area, tuneable pore architecture, mouldable framework composition, tuneable band structure, and exceptional photon absorption tendency complimented with superior anti-recombination of excitons. Among the plethora of frameworks, inner transition metal based-MOFs (IT-MOFs) have started to garner significant traction as photocatalysts due to their distinct characteristics compared to conventional transition metal-based frameworks. Typically, IT-MOFs have the tendency to generate high nuclearity clusters and possess abundant Lewis acidic sites, together with mixed valency, which aids in easily converting redox couples, thereby making them a suitable candidate for various photocatalytic reactions. Therefore, in this contribution, we aim to summarise the excellent photocatalytic performance of IT-MOFs and their composites accompanied by a thorough discussion of their topological changes with a variation in the structure of the metal cluster, fabrication routes, morphological features, and physico-chemical properties together with a brief discussion of computational findings. Moreover, we attempt to explore the scientific understanding of the functionalities of IT-MOFs and their composites with detailed mechanistic pathways for in-depth clarity towards photocatalysis. Furthermore, we present a comprehensive analysis of IT-MOFs for various crucial photocatalytic applications such as H₂/O₂ evolution, organic pollutant degradation, organic transformation, and N₂ and CO₂ reduction. In addition, we discuss the measures employed to enhance their performance with some future directions to address the challenges with IT-MOF-based nanomaterials.

Unveiling Structural Diversity of Uranyl Compounds of Aprotic 4,4'-Bipyridine N,N'-Dioxide Bearing O-Donors

As an aprotic O-donor ligand, 4,4'-bipyridine N,N'-dioxide (DPO) shows good potential for the preparation of uranyl coordination compounds. In this work, by regulating reactant compositions and synthesis conditions, diverse coordination assembly between uranyl and DPO under different reaction conditions was achieved in the presence of other coexisting O-donors. A total of ten uranyl-DPO compounds, U-DPO-1 to U-DPO-10, have been synthesized by evaporation or hydro/solvothermal treatment, and the possible competition and cooperation of DPO with other O-donors for the formation of these uranyl-DPO compounds are discussed. Starting with an aqueous solution of uranyl nitrate, it is found that an anionic nitrate or hydroxyl group is involved in the coordination sphere of uranyl in U-DPO-1 ((UO₂)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₂·(DPO)), U-DPO-2 ((UO₂)(NO₃)₂(DPO)), and U-DPO-3 ((UO₂)(DPO)(μ₂-OH)₂), where DPO takes three different kinds of coordination modes, i.e. uncoordinated, monodentate, and biconnected. The utilization of UO₂(CF₃SO₃)₂ in acetonitrile, instead of an aqueous solution of uranyl nitrate, precludes the participation of nitrate and hydroxyl, and ensures the engagement of DPO ligands (4-5 DPO ligands for each uranyl) in a uranyl coordination sphere of U-DPO-4 ([(UO₂)(CF₃SO₃)(DPO)₂](CF₃SO₃)), U-DPO-5 ([UO₂(H₂O)(DPO)₂](CF₃SO₃)₂) and U-DPO-6 ([(UO₂)(DPO)_2.5](CF₃SO₃)₂). Moreover, when combined with anionic carboxylate ligands, terephthalic acid (H₂TPA), isophthalic acid (H₂IPA), and succinic acid (H₂SA), DPO works well with them to produce four mixed-ligand uranyl compounds with similar structures of two-dimensional (2D) networks or three-dimensional (3D) frameworks, U-DPO-7 ((UO₂)(TPA)(DPO)), U-DPO-8 ((UO₂)₂(DPO)(IPA)₂·0.5H₂O), U-DPO-9 ((UO₂)(SA)(DPO)·H₂O), and U-DPO-10 ((UO₂)₂(μ₂-OH)(SA)_1.5(DPO)). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations conducted to probe the bonding features between uranyl ions and different O-donor ligands show that the bonding ability of DPO is better than that of anionic CF₃SO₃ ^-, nitrate, and a neutral H₂O molecule and comparable to that of an anionic carboxylate group. Characterization of physicochemical properties of U-DPO-7 and U-DPO-10 with high phase purity including infrared (IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and luminescence properties is also provided.

A butterfly-like lead-doped titanium-oxide compound with high performance in photocatalytic cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxide

The cycloaddition reaction of CO₂ to epoxides is quite promising for CO₂ capture and storage as well as the production of value-added fine chemicals. Herein, a novel atomically precise lead-doped titanium-oxide cluster with the formula Ti₁₀Pb₂O₁₆(phen)₄(Ac)₁₂(DMF)₂ (denoted as Ti10Pb2; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; Ac = acetate; DMF = dimethylformamide) was synthesized through a facile solvothermal process, and is a molecular photocatalyst with surface-anchored main-group metal active sites. Its structure was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and other complementary techniques. Ti10Pb2 showed high photo-response and charge-separation efficiency under simulated sunlight irradiation. Ti10Pb2 was successfully used in the cycloaddition reaction of CO₂ with epoxides under solvent-free conditions. While its catalytic activity due to the Lewis acidity was moderate, simulated solar light irradiation further enhanced the reaction rate, demonstrating the synergistic effect of photocatalysis and Lewis-acid thermocatalysis.

Lead-Decorated Titanium Oxide Compound with a High Performance in Catalytic CO2 Insertion to Epoxides

The CO₂ cycloaddition to epoxides is an efficient method for CO₂ capture and storage, important not only for reducing greenhouse gas emission but also for producing cyclic carbonates, which are valuable industrial materials. In this study, we report a novel high-nuclearity titanium oxide cluster (TOC) inlayed with main-group element Pb²⁺, H₂Ti₁₆Pb₉O₂₄(SA)₁₈(DMF)₁₀(OH₂)₂ (denoted as 1; SA = salicylate; DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide), which has the property of visible-light absorption and has shown high catalytic activities for cycloadditions of CO₂ under visible-light irradiation. The cluster was synthesized in a high yield in a facial solvothermal process. Its structure and electronic structure were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, density functional theory calculations, and complementary techniques. The cycloaddition reactions were performed under solvent-free conditions. While the catalytic activity due to the Lewis acidity was moderate, visible-light irradiation further folded the reaction rates. The turnover number reached 3400 with a turnover frequency of 120 h^-1. Mechanism studies indicated a synergistic effect of the Lewis acidity and photogenerated charge carriers. The performance of 1 in reversible I₂ uptake was also investigated. This study demonstrates the high potential of heterometal-decorated TOCs in the cost-effective and efficient CO₂ cycloaddition reaction under mild conditions.

Progress in solid state and coordination chemistry of actinides in China

In the past decade, the area of solid state chemistry of actinides has witnessed a rapid development in China, based on the significantly increased proportion of the number of actinide containing crystal structures reported by Chinese researchers from only 2% in 2010 to 36% in 2021. In this review article, we comprehensively overview the synthesis, structure, and characterizations of representative actinide solid compounds including oxo-compounds, organometallic compounds, and endohedral metallofullerenes reported by Chinese researchers. In addition, Chinese researchers pioneered several potential applications of actinide solid compounds in terms of adsorption, separation, photoelectric materials, and photo-catalysis, which are also briefly discussed. It is our hope that this contribution not only calls for further development of this area in China, but also arouses new research directions and interests in actinide chemistry and material sciences.

Cr-Ti Mixed Oxide Molecular Cages: Synthesis, Structure, Photoresponse, and Photocatalytic Properties

The solvothermal reaction of titanium isopropoxide and chromate in the presence of benzoate produced two novel host-guest clusters encapsulating Cs⁺ or H₃O⁺, (H₃O)@Ti₇Cr₁₄ and Cs@Ti₇Cr₁₄. The most remarkable feature is that the Ti₇O₇ ring is concentrically embraced by a Cr₁₄O₁₄ ring to form a rigid Ti₇Cr₁₄ host. ESI-MS and ¹³³Cs NMR revealed that the overall framework structures are preserved, whereas the benzoate ligands on the two clusters may be labile in solutions. Both (H₃O)@Ti₇Cr₁₄ and Cs@Ti₇Cr₁₄ exhibit good UV-vis light-responsive properties and photocatalytic activities, with absorption edges extending up to 780 nm. Cs@Ti₇Cr₁₄ is an effective visible-light-responsive photocatalyst in both the heterogeneous methylene dye degradation and homogeneous CO₂ cycloaddition reaction under mild conditions like room temperature and 1 bar of CO₂. According to the mechanism studies, Cs⁺, as a rigid guest, can significantly improve the photogenerated charge separation efficiency of the Ti₇Cr₁₄ host, thereby improving its interface charge separation properties, photocurrent, and photocatalytic activities. Our findings not only provide new members of heterometallic titanium oxide clusters to enrich the metal oxide cluster family but also open up new possibilities for their photoresponses, which may play an important role in solar energy harvesting for sustainable chemistry.

State-of-the-art progress for the selective crystallization of actinides, synthesis of actinide compounds and their functionalization

Crystallization and immobilization of actinides to form actinide compounds are of significant importance for the extraction and reutilization of nuclear waste in the nuclear industry. In this paper, the state-of-art progress in the crystallization of actinides are summarized, as well as the main functionalization of the actinide compounds, i.e., as adsorbents for heavy metal ions and organic pollutant in waste management, as (photo)catalysts for organic degradation and conversion, including degradation of organic dyes and antibiotics, dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles, CO₂ cycloaddition, selective alcohol oxidation and selective oxidation of sulfides. This review will give a comprehensive summary about the synthesis and application exploration of solid actinide crystalline salts and actinide-based metal organic frameworks in the past decades. Finally, the future perspectives and challenges are proposed in the end to give a promising direction for future investigation.

Efficient synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 under ambient conditions over Zn(betaine)2Br2: experimental and theoretical studies

It is very interesting to synthesize high value-added chemicals from CO₂ under mild conditions with low energy consumption. Here, we report that a novel catalyst, Zn(betaine)₂Br₂, can efficiently promote the cycloaddition of CO₂ with epoxides to synthesize cyclic carbonates under ambient conditions (30 °C, 1 atm). DFT calculations provide important insights into the mechanism, particularly the unusual synergistic catalytic action of Zn²⁺, Br^- and NR⁴⁺, which is the critical factor for the outstanding performance of Zn(betaine)₂Br₂. The unique features of the catalyst are that it is cheap, green and very easy to prepare.

Encapsulation of Polymetallic Oxygen Clusters in a Mesoporous/Microporous Thorium-Based Porphyrin Metal-Organic Framework for Enhanced Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Solar-initiated CO₂ reduction is significant for green energy development. Herein, we have prepared a new mesoporous/microporous porphyrin metal-organic framework (MOF), IHEP-20, loaded with polymetallic oxygen clusters (POMs) to form a composite material POMs@IHEP-20 for visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. The as-made composite material exhibits good stability in water from pH 0 to 11. After POMs were introduced to IHEP-20, they showed superior activity toward photocatalytic CO₂ reduction with a CO production rate of 970 μmol·g^-1·h^-1, which is 3.27 times higher than that of pristine IHEP-20. This study opens a new door for the design and synthesis of high-performance catalysts for the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂.

Efficient photoreduction of hexavalent uranium over defective ZnO nanoparticles by oxygen defect engineering

The oxygen-defect engineering of ZnO-400 nanosheets to enhance their photocatalytic performance for U(vi) reduction.

Atomically Dispersed High-Density Al-N4 Sites in Porous Carbon for Efficient Photodriven CO2 Cycloaddition

Highly active catalysts that can directly utilize renewable energy (e.g., solar energy) are desirable for CO₂ value-added processes. Herein, aiming at improving the efficiency of photodriven CO₂ cycloaddition reactions, a catalyst composed of porous carbon nanosheets enriched with a high loading of atomically dispersed Al atoms (≈14.4 wt%, corresponding to an atomic percent of ≈7.3%) coordinated with N (AlN₄ motif, Al-N-C catalyst) via a versatile molecule-confined pyrolysis strategy is reported. The performance of the Al-N-C catalyst for catalytic CO₂ cycloaddition under light irradiation (≈95% conversion, reaction rate = 3.52 mmol g^-1 h^-1 ) is significantly superior to that obtained under a thermal environment (≈57% conversion, reaction rate = 2.11 mmol g^-1 h^-1 ). Besides the efficient photothermal conversion induced by the carbon matrix, both experimental and theoretical analysis reveal that light irradiation favors the photogenerated electron transfer from the semiconductive Al-N-C catalyst to the epoxide reactant, facilitating the formation of a ring-opened intermediate through the rate-limiting step. This study not only provides an advanced Al-N-C catalyst for photodriven CO₂ cycloaddition, but also furnishes new insight for the rational design of superior photocatalysts for diverse heterogeneous catalytic reactions in the future.

Solvent-Free Synthesis of Iron-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) as Slow-Release Fertilizers

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were usually synthesized in hydrothermal conditions; in this study, a more energy-saving, easier to control, and solvent-free mechanochemical method was firstly applied to synthesize MOFs with varied reactants as slow release fertilizer, and the components and structures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared total attenuated reflectance (FTIR-ATR), and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Results showed that three MOFs (compounds I, II, and III) were obtained, the MOFs were confirmed as oxalate phosphate oxalate frameworks (OPA-MOF), and ions were adsorbed between layers that contributed to the contents, while urea molecules mainly impacted the structure. The elemental compositions significantly varied among the three compounds; compound I showed the highest content of N (4.91%), P (15.71%), and Fe (18.60%), compound III indicated the highest content of C (6.52%) and K (12.59%), while the contents of C, K, P, and Fe in compound II were in the medium range. Similar release profiles of Fe and P were found among the three MOFs, and the release rates of nutrients were demonstrated as the order of N > K > P > Fe. The compositions and release profiles demonstrated potential application of MOFs as a novel slow-release fertilizer.