Accelerating Triple Transport in Zinc-Air Batteries and Water Electrolysis by Spatially Confining Co Nanoparticles in Breathable Honeycomb-Like Macroporous N-Doped Carbon

Rational engineering electrode structure to achieve an efficient triple-phase contact line is vital for applications such as in zinc-air batteries and water electrolysis. Herein, a facile "MOF-in situ-leaching and confined-growth-MOF" strategy is developed to construct a breathable trifunctional electrocatalyst based on N-doped graphitic carbon with Co nanoparticles spatially confined in an inherited honeycomb-like macroporous structure (denoted as Co@HMNC). The unique orderly arranged macroporous channels and the "ships in a bottle" confinement effect jointly expedite the triple transport, endowing the catalysts with fast reaction kinetics. As a result, the obtained Co@HMNC catalyst presents superb trifunctional performance with a positive half-wave potential (E_1/2 ) of 0.90 V for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and low overpotentials of 318 and 51 mV for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at 10 mA cm^-2 , respectively. The Co@HMNC-based liquid Zn-air battery reaches a large specific capacity of 859 mA h g_Zn ^-1 , a high-power density of 198 mW cm^-2 , and long-term stability for 375 h, suggesting its promise for actual applications.

Structural diversity, gas adsorption and magnetic properties of three coordination polymers based on a rigid multicarboxylate ligand

A pictogram: the gas adsorption and magnetic properties of three Co(ii) coordination polymers constructed from 3,5-di(2′,5′-dicarboxylphenyl)benzoic acid ligand have been explored.

A water stable microporous metal–organic framework based on rod SBUs: synthesis, structure and adsorption properties

A microporous metal–organic framework based on rod SBUs with high water stability and good selectivity for CO₂ separation has been successfully synthesized.

Breathing 3D Frameworks with T-Shaped Connecting Ligand Exhibiting Solvent Induction, Metal Ions Effect and Luminescent Properties

To study the structural effects in three-dimensional porous coordination polymers, three novel flexible porous coordination polymers—[Cd2(bpdc)2](DMF)3(H2O) (1) and [M(bpdc)](DMF)(H2O) (M = Cd (2), Zn (3))—have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions with d10 block metal ions and T-shaped connecting ligand. Complexes 1–3 crystallize in different space groups, but they display the same ant network. The first two complexes can transform into each other via the alteration of guest, whereas complex 3 shows no structural change. The structural details reveal that the size of metal ions might be responsible for the transformation of porous frameworks. Furthermore, luminescent properties have been explored, and a guest-dependent shift of emission peaks was observed, suggesting potential application of the complexes as a probe.

Biphenyl-2,4,6,3',5'-pentacarboxylic acid as a tecton for six new Co(II) coordination polymers: pH and N-donor ligand-dependent assemblies, structure diversities and magnetic properties

Six new Co(ii)-based mixed-ligand coordination polymers, namely, [Co2(H3bppc)2(2,2'-bpy)4]·H2O (), [Co2(Hbppc)(2,2'-bpy)2(H2O)]·H2O (), [Co(H2bppc)(H-bpp)]·2H2O (), [Co3(μ3-OH)(bppc)(dps)(CH3CH2OH)]·4H2O (), [Co2(bppc)(bib)(H2O)4]·(H2-bib)0.5·(H2O)3 (), and [Co2(Hbppc)(bix)2]·2H2O (), (H5bppc = biphenyl-2,4,6,3',5'-pentacarboxylic acid, 2,2'-bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, bpp = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane, dps = 4,4'-sulfanediyldipyridine, bib = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)benzene, bix = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene), have been obtained under solvothermal conditions. exhibits a 3D supramolecular framework based on a [Co2(H3bppc)2(2,2'-bpy)4] unit. has a (3,4)-connected dmc net with a (4·8(2))(4·8(5)) topology containing alternate binuclear metal clusters and single metal centres. shows a 3D supramolecular architecture constructed from ladder-like arrays decorated with H-bpp. exhibits a binodal (5,7)-connected 3D network based on trinuclear [Co3(μ3-OH)](5+) units with an unusual (3·4(6)·5(2)·6)(3(2)·4(6)·5(7)·6(5)·7) topology. features a (4,6)-connected 3D fsc open framework with binuclear [Co2(H2O)(COO)](3+) units as nodes, and H2-bib and water molecules located in the voids of its framework by hydrogen bonds. possesses a 3D net containing unusual 2D polyrotaxane sheets. Topological analysis reveals that has a (3,4,4)-connected 3D network with a (4·6·7(4))(4·6·7)(6·7(2)·10(2)·11) topology. The structural difference of and is due to the different pH values of the reaction system. Though complexes were synthesised under similar reaction conditions, the carboxylic groups of H5bppc were partially deprotonated in , and and fully deprotonated in and . Complexes display diverse structures depending on different N-donor ligands and the coordination modes of the multicarboxylate ligand. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that complexes show antiferromagnetic interactions.

Coordination assemblies of Zn(NO3)2 with 4-pyr-poly-2-ene and polycarboxylates: structural diversification and photoluminescence properties

Reactions of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O with 4-pyr-poly-2-ene and five polycarboxylates afforded a series of coordination polymers with different architectures. Their thermal and photoluminescence properties were also investigated.

Application of a novel 2D cadmium(ii)-MOF in the formation of a photo-switch with a substantial on–off ratio

Single crystal X-ray crystallography of a novel thiocyanate bridged 2D MOF has been reported along with its applicability in photosensitive devices. The band gap in the solid state has been determined and compared with the theoretical value.