Unveiling the Potential of Redox Chemistry to Form Size-Tunable, High-Index Silicon Particles.

Silicon particles of intermediate sizes (75-200 nm) scatter visible wavelengths, making them promising candidates for optical devices. The solution synthesis of silicon particles in this size range, however, has proved challenging for chemists over the past few decades. Here, a solution-phase synthesis provides a pathway toward reaching size tunability between 45 and 230 nm via changing the reactant ratio in the reaction between a silicon Zintl phase (NaSi) with an amidinate-stabilized Si(IV) coordination complex.

Effect of the heteroatom on the magnetic and luminescence properties of hybrid lanthanide-substituted Keggin-type polyoxometalates.

Replacement of the heteroatom from Si to Ge has a strong influence on the luminescence properties of a series of hybrid, sandwich-type K[Ln(α-GeWO)(CHBrNO)]·14HO (1Ge-Ln, Ln = Sm to Lu) anions. Interestingly, the Gd and Yb derivatives retain their ability to display slow relaxation of magnetisation.

On the Electrochemical Growth of a Crystalline p-n Junction From Aqueous Solutions.

Our society largely relies on inorganic semiconductor devices which are, so far, fabricated using expensive and complex processes requiring ultra-high vacuum equipment. Here we report on the possibility of growing a p-n junction taking advantage of electrochemical processes based on the use of aqueous solutions. The growth of the junction has been carried out using the Electrochemical Atomic Layer Deposition (E-ALD) technique, which allowed to sequentially deposit two different semiconductors, CdS and CuS, on an Ag(111) substrate, in a single procedure.

Size-tunable silicon nanoparticles synthesized in solution a redox reaction.

A current challenge in silicon chemistry is to perform liquid-phase synthesis of silicon nanoparticles, which would permit the use of colloidal synthesis techniques to control size and shape. Herein we show how silicon nanoparticles were synthesized at ambient temperature and pressure in organic solvents through a redox reaction. Specifically, a hexacoordinated silicon complex, bis(,'-diisopropylbutylamidinato)dichlorosilane, was reduced by a silicon Zintl phase, sodium silicide (NaSi).

High temperature spin crossover behaviour of mononuclear bis-(thiocyanato)iron(II) complexes with judiciously designed bidentate N-donor Schiff bases with varying substituents.

We present herein a family of molecular -[Fe(X-PPMA)(NCS)]·HO [4-X--(phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methylene)aniline; X-PPMA; X = -Cl (1), -Br (2), and -CH (3)] complexes that exhibit spin crossover behaviour above room temperature. Judiciously designed bidentate N-donor Schiff bases of 2-benzoylpyridine and -substituted anilines in combination with Fe(NCS) were used for the synthesis of complexes 1-3. The relatively strong ligand field of the Schiff bases stabilises the low spin state of iron(II) up to 300 K which is evident from magnetic measurements, room temperature Mössbauer spectra and crystallographic bond/angle distortion parameters.