Spatial confinement boosts C–C coupling in brushed Cu/Ag@CuO NWs for CO2 electroreduction into C2H4
Cu/Ag@CuO NWs with CuO nanobrushes were synthesized via a simple one-pot method for the first time. The spatial confinement and tandem reaction optimize the C–C coupling of *CO into C2H4 during the CO2RR, rather than further hydrogenation to CH4.
K/Co co-doped carbon nitride nanocrystals for efficient hydrogen photosynthesis coupled with furfuryl alcohol oxidation
Pore structure engineering in peat-derived hard carbon from confined carbonization for boosted sodium storage
Fluorine confined catalytic sites for augmented p-d hybridization promoting flow-type aqueous Zn-CO2 batteries
Polyoxometalate-Mediated Confined Self-Assembly of Sandwich-Structured Mesoporous Polymer@rGO for High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Iodine Batteries
Redefining the capacity limitation of Li–air batteries by uncoupling the competitive multiple-transport and nucleation
An ordered thick porous air electrode was designed to decouple O2/Li+/electron transport, redefining the relationship between current density and capacity, and challenging the misunderstanding of high capacity at low current density.
Urea synthesis via electrocatalytic C–N coupling of CO2 and nitrate on oxygen-vacancy-rich Co3O4–CuO heterostructure nanowires
Co3O4–CuO/CF was synthesized for urea synthesis via electrocatalytic C–N coupling of nitrate and CO2, showing high faradaic efficiency and urea yield due to the formation of a heterostructure and rich oxygen vacancies.
Communication
Confinement-supported aurophilic interaction
Au⋯Au interaction from a bisphosphine Au(I) complex without a bridging ligand.
Coordination-assembly of a redox-active Pd6L3 cage for aerobic C(sp3)–H bond photooxidation of aromatic cyclic ethers
The redox-active Pd6L3 cage with a large lantern-shaped cavity exhibits exceptional catalytic activity in selective aerobic C–H photooxidation.
Anthraquinone substituents modulate ionic hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks to achieve high ionic conductivity for alkali metal ions
In this study, we show that iHOF-24 and iHOF-25 exhibit high ionic conductivity for alkali metal ions. At 30 °C, the Li+ conductivities of iHOF-24 and iHOF-25 were 9.44 × 10−5 and 9.85 × 10−5 S cm−1, which is higher than that of Na+ and K+.
A metallosupramolecular-based ring-in-ring complex showing reversible host-guest dynamics and switchable electrochemical properties
Paper
An investigation into catalysed xanthene-based dye oxidation by a family of coordination cages
A Co8 coordination cage simultaneously binds xanthene dyes around the surface, and performs redox activation of peroxymonosulfate to SO4˙−, allowing catalysed oxidative degradation of the dyes.
About this collection
Reactions at confined sites generally exhibit high rates and exquisite selectivities that differ from those occurring in bulk solution. The confinement spot can be considered as a second coordination sphere of the catalyst, reminiscent of enzymatic active sites. The orientation of the reagents and substrates is controlled by the special environment around the confined site leading to highly selective transformations. As such, structural constraints and weak interactions conspire to decrease activation barriers of precise reactions to furnish rapid chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective transformations. Therefore, shedding light on reactions taking place at confined spaces is crucial to tame their reactivity and add another level of control to catalyst design.
This joint ChemComm and Nanoscale themed collection, Guest Edited by Xavier Ribas Salamaña (IQCC, Spain), Huan Pang (Yangzhou University, China), F. Dean Toste (University of California Berkeley, USA) and Raul Hernandez Sanchez (Rice University, USA), covers the behaviour of chemical species within nanoconfined environments such as colloidal nanoparticle surfaces, polymeric nanosystems, coordination cage cavities, and nanopores within porous materials.