Themed collection 2025 Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers HOT articles

This review article focuses on current achievements and identifies future research directions by designing biomimetic catalytic systems for CO₂ reduction to formate using NAD(P)H.

Advancing photocatalysis through efficient fabrication of morphology-engineered photonic crystals helps the practical application of photocatalytic technology.

The recent research progress on high-entropy alloy nanoparticles composed of six or more elements is reviewed, and their theoretical aspects, synthetic methods and critical applications are examined.

Metal–coumarin photosensitizers enhance ROS generation and phototoxicity, offering promising solutions for cancer phototherapy.

This review discusses the research progress on dye removal from single and binary systems using porous carbon-based adsorbents, along with a detailed analysis of their removal mechanisms.

g-C₃N₄ emerges as a key photocatalytic anticorrosion filler due to its eco-friendly nature, 2D structure, and active protection. This review highlights the latest research progress of g-C₃N₄-based photocatalytic anti-corrosion coating.

The authors summarize recent research progress on pristine MOFs and their derivatives for high-performance AZIBs and discuss the energy storage mechanisms.

This review summarized the methods for synthesizing MoS₂-based nanomaterials and their application in capacitive deionization.

This review summarizes the synthesis, modification, and characterization of nonmetal-doped HER electrocatalysts. Reported catalysts are categorized by dopant type, and future prospects for non-metal doping strategies are discussed.

This review summarizes the reported iminophosphonamide complexes of s-block, p-block, transition and f-block metals. Furthermore, the recent development in the field of chiral iminophosphonamide metal complexes is also discussed.

Co-based metal nanocatalysts have been thoroughly summarized as economical and efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution from sodium borohydride and ammonia borane.

Selected studies carried out in the field of protein metalation, where the structural information achieved by X-ray crystallography has been complemented by other biophysical techniques, are described.

This review aims to bridge the gap in the applications of DACs by presenting a thorough and multidimensional analysis of DACs in advanced oxidation processes, a pivotal area in addressing environmental and energy challenges.

We review the latest developments in scintillator materials for X-ray detection thoroughly, including perovskites, nano-clusters, organic and rare-earth-doped compounds and specialized structures, and provide an in-depth insight for future prospects.

This review offers an overview of recent advancements in novel multi-component chalcogenidometalates, emphasizing the intrinsic relationships between composition, structure, and photocurrent properties.

This work reviews selenoborates, categorizing them by structure, synthesis methods, and highlighting their bandgaps, nonlinear optical properties, and potential as IR functional materials.

Ti₃C₂/TiO₂ and C@TiO₂ based composites for photocatalytic applications.

We summarize the design strategies for improving the ECL of metal nanoclusters, including 1. aggregation-induced emission; 2. anodic pre-oxidation; 3. aggregation-induced self-loading; 4. Anionic substitution; 5. ion doping; 6. valence engineering.

This summary describes and elucidates an enhanced strategy for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation over Bi₂MO₆ (M = Mo, W)-based catalysts and points out the development prospects of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation.

In this review, we have highlighted computational studies on actinide-based mononuclear single-molecule magnets, focusing on compounds containing the elements U, Np, Pu, and Cf.

MgO-templated domain engineering generates edge-rich Ru nanocrystals with abundant low-coordination sites, dramatically enhancing alkaline HER performance.

A new Fe^II spin-transieon complex with bis-(pyrazole-pyridine-triazolate) core shows 60 K-wide hysteresis near room temperature and T_LIESST = 90 K exhibieng changes in color (yellow/brown) and fluorescence (sky-blue/violet) for the HS/LS states.

Structurally similar Cu₁₄ and Cu₁₃ NCs were synthesized as model OER catalysts. Cu₁₄ exhibited superior activity due to an extra Cu atom acting as the key active site, which significantly lowers the energy barrier of the rate-determining step.

Anionic design transforms the non-centrosymmetric [NMe₄][CH₃SO₃] with high T_c and SHG switching into the centrosymmetric [NMe₄][CF₃SO₃] with ferroelastic switching.

Alkylazide binds to a Co–P moiety to form a phosphazido cobalt species, which further undergoes methylation leading to abnormal organoazide activation, presenting a P center can be an active anchoring group for alkylazide.

Efficient optical power limiting (OPL) materials are crucial for protecting optical devices and the eyes.

Cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were used to demonstrate that aqueous plutonium coordination chemistry and electron transfer reactivity can be controlled by judicious manipulation of hydrochloric acid concentrations.

We present two novel hybrid chalcogenides that exhibit narrow band gaps, high conductivity, exceptional stability, and remarkable piezoelectric properties.

An ingenious carbon-nanotube wall nanoengineering strategy is developed to synthesize a bifunctional electrocatalyst consisting of single-atom Fe–N₄ moieties for oxygen reduction and nanosized FeNi species for oxygen evolution.

Linker engineering by tuning the non-nitrogen heteroatom and conjugation core enables optimization of the electronic structure of the electron acceptor in D–A COFs and thereby yields a photocatalyst with an H₂ generation rate of ca. 35 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹.

This study reports a novel hydroxyl-modified fullerene compound which can induce both apoptosis and pyroptosis in HeLa cells under light irradiation. Additionally, C₇₀(OH)₈@NP demonstrates significant anti-tumor activity in vivo.

Layered hybrid perovskite ferroelectrics have made significant strides in high-performance X-ray detection, attributed to their polarization-induced large built-in electric fields and excellent carrier mobility.

CaS:Tm and CaS:Tm@SiO₂ together constitute a “Snap-PLNP” system that, upon water-triggered self-destruction, offers triple anticounterfeiting protection by integrating spatial, temporal, and chemical security layers.

The first 0D cyanide perovskite ferroelastic material, (MA)₃[Fe(CN)₆], exhibits remarkable birefringence switching up to 0.28, which is mediated by the cooperative rotation of the rigid Fe(CN)₆ octahedron during its phase transition.

In this work, we present the bioorthogonal activation and mitochondria targeting of a near-infrared-emitting iridium(III) nitrone complex via cyclooctynylated phosphonium cations for enhanced cellular imaging and photodynamic therapy.

Under the serious corrosion of 30 wt% KOH, Mn-NiS₂@CISD-NiOOH can ensure stable long-term operation due to the long-term continuous in situ generation of NiOOH at the cathode during HER catalysis.

The positive synergies between the metallic 1T-WS₂ and Ni₂P dual cocatalysts in electronic structure engineering and charge transfer kinetics greatly contribute to the significantly enhanced H₂ evolution performance of the ZnIn₂S₄ catalyst.

Anionic F-doping-induced engineering of P2-type K_0.6Zn_0.1Ti_0.05Al_0.05Mn_0.8O₂ (KTMO) cathode materials is proposed for high-performance potassium-ion batteries.

PTO-NH₃⁺, a planar, delocalized organic anode with stable intermolecular H-bond networks and 4-step H⁺ chemistry, achieves high-rate and long-life (10 000 cycles) proton storage, shedding light on further avenues towards advanced proton batteries.

Biomimetic bromination of unactivated C–H bonds catalyzed by an iron porphyrin complex with LiBr was achieved. Introduction of Li⁺ completely inhibited the oxygen-rebound pathway. A carbocation was proposed as the key intermediate for the reaction.

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) of a pyrene modified Zn(II) complex was controlled by coordination geometry changes and solid-state excimer formation.

Thermally driven CS-to-NCS transition: an irreversible phase transition pathway for high-performance infrared nonlinear optical crystal Ag₄P₂S₇.

Novel twinned-FCC clusters were designed via Au₁₃ core and fusion strategy. Au₁₈₂/₁₈₈ exhibited metallicity, revealing reduced Au-atom threshold for metallicity in this configuration.

NiCoMoS–Ti₃C₂T_x heterostructures are obtained through interface engineering optimization using a hydrothermal vulcanization process, demonstrating excellent electrochemical performance.

Hollow Co₃S₄/NiCo-LDH nanocages strung by functional MWCNTs were synthesized, with a built-in electric field formed via the Co₃S₄ interface interaction, enhancing electrochemical performance.

The synthesis of compound was achieved by the introduction of bimetallic active centres (Co/V) and dual ligangs using Keggin-type {PW₁₂O₄₀} units as building blocks.Compound exhibited a high photocatalytic activity.

A novel approach to time-resolved, multi-stage information encryption and anti-counterfeiting was presented, using hybrid antimony chloride materials capable of stepwise structural transformations and tunable photoluminescent properties.

PROTAC–Pt(IV) represents a new class of dual-action Pt(IV) prodrugs integrating platinum drugs with PROTAC-mediated protein degradation, exhibiting superior antitumor efficacy compared to conventional Pt(IV) prodrug and PROTAC alone in vivo.

The implantation of distortable functionalized ligands in ultra-microporous MOFs enables the simultaneous regulation of the pore structure and binding active sites, which offers a promising approach for efficient C₂H₂ purification.

By combining the high energy density of potassium ion batteries (PIBs) with the fast power delivery of supercapacitors (SCs), potassium ion hybrid capacitors (PIHCs) pave the way for advanced energy storage technologies.

A crystalline/amorphous Ru/NiO_x@GA-based composite catalyst (Ru/NiO_x@GA) was prepared. Ru/NiO_x@GA only required a low potential of 32 mV and 237 mV to reach 10 mA cm⁻² for HER and OER, respectively, and exhibited good cycling stability.

A high-valent manganese compound I complex, Mn Cpd I, displays a high reactivity in aromatic halogenation. This study provides valuable insights into understanding of the reaction mechanism of aromatic halogenation by Mn-porphyrin intermediates.

By incorporating multiple alkali and alkaline-earth metal elements, we have successfully synthesized and report the first tri-alkali/alkaline-earth metal fluorophosphate KBaSr(PO₂F₂)(PO₃F)₂ as a promising deep-ultraviolet birefringent crystal.

A solvent-adaptive porous ionic rotaxane assembly exhibits a “breathing” effect during solvent adsorption/desorption, enabling efficient ABE mixture separation and tunable proton conductivity.

The precision engineering of the molecular framework has synthesized two superclusters based on the {Sr⊂P₆M₂Mo₁₆O₇₃} motif, which exhibit closely related topological structures: Co₁₂Sr₄Mo₈₀P₃₆ and Na₄Ni₂₃Sr₄Mo₈₈P₅₂.

A novel LaMgGa₁₁O₁₉:Cr³⁺,Yb³⁺ near-infrared broadband phosphor with high performance has been designed via a lattice occupation and energy transfer strategy. The application of the above phosphors in the LED field was also demonstrated.

Biomass photoreforming to coproduce sustainable hydrogen and valuable chemicals is a potential strategy for alleviating energy and environmental issues.

Based on 3-phenylpyridine (3-spy) ligand, we constructed an Fe(II)–Ag(I) bimetallic Hofmann-type spin-crossover (SCO) framework and realized the effective regulation of SCO cooperativity by a solid-state photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.

Inspired from the alveolus, which has efficient diffusion and exchange abilities, a hierarchically porous alveolus-like TS-1 microsphere was prepared, achieving excellent oxidative desulfurization performance.

In situ transformed LiC₆ endowed carbon fiber (CF) host with self-lithiophilic property, while heterogeneous Pt nanoparticles further boosted the lithiophilicity and Li nucleation to achieve an even Li plating.

A novel ferroelectric material was synthesized using a CH₃/OH substitution strategy. Its ferroelectric property was elucidated through crystal structure and quantum chemical analyses, offering a new approach for ferroelectric material design.

Surface etching to expose (211) of SnO₂ : F (FTO) led to uniform synthesis of low-defect CN film, which produces a state-of-the-art photovoltage of 0.64 V and excellent biased and unbiased photoelectrochemical water splitting performances.

CuIn(3-ain)₄, functionalized with NH₂, demonstrates exceptional natural gas separation, durability, and low-pressure adsorption, underscoring its industrial potential.

CdF(C₆H₄NO₂)(H₂O) emerges as a UV nonliner optical material that exhibits unprecedented second harmonicgeneration (3.2×KDP) and birefringence (0.26@546 nm), achieved through the presence of π-conjudated rings and a distinctive “Warren truss structure”.

By modifying the KBBF template structure at the molecular level, the first metal-free sulfate (CN₄H₇)₂SO₄·H₂O was synthesized, which achieved an effective balance between the short UV cut-off edge (212 nm) and large birefringence (0.132@546.1 nm).

ECL emissions originating from a series of heterobimetallic complexes comprising a ruthenium acetylide antenna conjugated to an NIR emissive lanthanide (Yb and Nd) unit via a bipyridyl ligand were achieved in the NIR spectral range.

Vacuum-synthesized LLZTO@PVDF offers triple functions: high Li⁺ conductivity (1.92 mS cm⁻¹), strength, and Li₂CO₃ decomposition sites. Ru@C-based Solid-state Li-CO₂ cells with a molten salt layer achieve 3.0 V overpotential and 99% retention.