Rationally designed mineralization for selective recovery of the rare earth elements.

The increasing demand for rare earth (RE) elements in advanced materials for permanent magnets, rechargeable batteries, catalysts and lamp phosphors necessitates environmentally friendly approaches for their recovery and separation. Here, we propose a mineralization concept for direct extraction of RE ions with Lamp (lanthanide ion mineralization peptide). In aqueous solution containing various metal ions, Lamp promotes the generation of RE hydroxide species with which it binds to form hydrophobic complexes that accumulate spontaneously as insoluble precipitates, even under physiological conditions (pH ∼6.

Light-harvesting photocatalysis for water oxidation using mesoporous organosilica.

An organic-based photocatalysis system for water oxidation, with visible-light harvesting antennae, was constructed using periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO). PMO containing acridone groups in the framework (Acd-PMO), a visible-light harvesting antenna, was supported with [Ru(II)(bpy)3(2+)] complex (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl) coupled with iridium oxide (IrO(x)) particles in the mesochannels as photosensitizer and catalyst, respectively. Acd-PMO absorbed visible light and funneled the light energy into the Ru complex in the mesochannels through excitation energy transfer.

A solid chelating ligand: periodic mesoporous organosilica containing 2,2'-bipyridine within the pore walls.

Synthesis of a solid chelating ligand for the formation of efficient heterogeneous catalysts is highly desired in the fields of organic transformation and solar energy conversion. Here, we report the surfactant-directed self-assembly of a novel periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) containing 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) ligands within the framework (BPy-PMO) from a newly synthesized organosilane precursor [(i-PrO)3Si-C10H6N2-Si(Oi-Pr)3] without addition of any other silane precursors. BPy-PMO had a unique pore-wall structure in which bipyridine groups were densely and regularly packed and exposed on the surface.

Ab initio molecular orbital study on the excited states of [2.2]-, [3.3]-, and siloxane-bridged paracyclophanes.

Paracyclophanes are simple idealized model molecules for the study of interacting π-stacking systems. In this study, the excited states of [2.2]paracyclophane ([2.

Facile preparation of oriented nanoporous silica films from solvent-free liquid-crystalline mixtures.

Mixtures of an amphiphilic perylene bisimide derivative and tetramethoxysilane in the absence of solvents have been found to exhibit stable columnar liquid-crystalline phases which transform into macroscopically oriented nanoporous silica films as a result of simple mechanical shearing.

Isothermally reversible fluorescence switching of a mechanochromic perylene bisimide dye.

Isothermally rewritable fluorescence mechanochromism has been realized for a perylene bisimide dye with bulky and flexible substituents. Fluorescent patterns drawn by mechanical stimuli can be erased by thermal stimuli, treatment with solvent vapors, or spontaneous structural transition from orange-fluorescent to green-fluorescent states. The isothermal fluorescence switching of solid dye films is applicable to displays and sensory materials.

Energy and electron transfer from fluorescent mesostructured organosilica framework to guest dyes.

Energy and electron transfer from frameworks of nanoporous or mesostructured materials to guest species in the nanochannels have been attracting much attention because of their increasing availability for the design and construction of solid photofunctional systems, such as luminescent materials, photovoltaic devices, and photocatalysts. In the present study, energy and electron-transfer behavior of dye-doped periodic mesostructured organosilica films with different host-guest arrangements were systematically examined. Fluorescent tetraphenylpyrene (TPPy)-silica mesostructured films were used as a host donor.

Enhanced fluorescence detection of metal ions using light-harvesting mesoporous organosilica.

Enhanced fluorescence detection of metal ions was realized in a system consisting of a fluorescent 2,2'-bipyridine (BPy) receptor and light-harvesting periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO). The fluorescent BPy receptor with two silyl groups was synthesized and covalently attached to the pore walls of biphenyl (Bp)-bridged PMO powder. The fluorescence intensity from the BPy receptor was significantly enhanced by the light-harvesting property of Bp-PMO, that is, the energy funneling into the BPy receptor from a large number of Bp groups in the PMO framework which absorbed UV light effectively.

Ab initio studies of aromatic excimers using multiconfiguration quasi-degenerate perturbation theory.

The aromatic excimers of benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, and perylene are systematically investigated using the multiconfiguration quasi-degenerate perturbation theory (MCQDPT) method, which is one of high-level ab initio quantum chemical methods. The reference configuration space for MCQDPT is carefully designed for an appropriate description of the target electronic state with a tractable computational cost. The dimers with eclipsed parallel arrangement are investigated.

Fluorescence studies on phenylene moieties embedded in a framework of periodic mesoporous organosilica.

The excited state characteristics of phenylene (Ph)-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) powders with crystal-like and amorphous wall structures are investigated. Crystal-like Ph-PMO has a molecular ordering of the bridging organic moieties with intervals of 0.76 and 0.

Synthesis of a spirobifluorene-bridged allylsilane precursor for periodic mesoporous organosilica.

A novel spirobifluorene-bridged allylsilane precursor, which can be easily purified by silica gel chromatography, was prepared by using a new molecular building block for allylsilane sol-gel precursors (MBAS) and successfully converted into a highly fluorescent periodic mesoporous organosilica film.

Syntheses, properties and applications of periodic mesoporous organosilicas prepared from bridged organosilane precursors.

Periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) prepared by surfactant-directed polycondensation of bridged organosilane precursors are promising for a variety of next-generation functional materials, because their large surface areas, well-defined nanoporous structures and the structural diversity of organosilica frameworks are advantageous for functionalization. This critical review highlights the unique structural features of PMOs and their expanding potential applications. Since the early reports of PMOs in 1999, various synthetic approaches, including the selection of hydrolytic reaction conditions, development of new precursor compounds, design of templates and the use of co-condensation or grafting techniques, have enabled the hierarchical structural control of PMOs from molecular- and meso-scale structures to macroscopic morphology.

Mesostructured organosilica with a 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium bridging unit: photoinduced charge separation in the organosilica framework.

Polycondensation of 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium-bridged organosilane in the presence of a nonionic surfactant yielded a mesostructured organosilica solid with a functional framework that exhibited long-lived photoinduced charge separation.

Crystal-like periodic mesoporous organosilica bearing pyridine units within the framework.

Periodic mesoporous organosilica with densely packed pyridine units within the framework and crystal-like molecular-scale periodicity was synthesized. The framework pyridines were chemically active and fully accessible for protonation and Cu(2+) adsorption.

Dynamics in the excited electronic state of periodic mesoporous biphenylylene-silica studied by time-resolved diffuse reflectance and fluorescence spectroscopy.

The excited state dynamics of periodic mesoporous organosilica (powder) bearing biphenylylene moieties densely in the silica framework (Bp-PMO) is investigated for the first time using femtosecond time-resolved diffuse reflectance (TDR) and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopies. The TDR spectra revealed the excitation-relaxation process of the biphenylylene moieties, including the relaxation of the twisted Frank-Condon (FC) state to the lowest singlet excited state (S(1)) with a time constant of 730 ± 95 fs, and efficient quenching of the S(1) state by excimer (E) formations with two time constants of 7.0 ± 0.

Theoretical studies on Si-C bond cleavage in organosilane precursors during polycondensation to organosilica hybrids.

Molecular orbital theory calculations were carried out to predict the occurrence of Si-C bond cleavage in various organosilane precursors during polycondensation to organosilica hybrids under acidic and basic conditions. On the basis of proposed mechanisms for cleavage of the Si-C bonds, the proton affinity (PA) of the carbon atom at the ipso-position and the PA of the carbanion generated after Si-C cleavage were chosen as indices for Si-C bond stability under acidic and basic conditions, respectively. The indices were calculated using a density functional theory (DFT) method for model compounds of organosilane precursors (R-Si(OH)(3)) having organic groups (R) of benzene (Ph), biphenyl (Bp), terphenyl (Tph), naphthalene (Nph), N-methylcarbazole (MCz), and anthracene (Ant).

Enhanced photocatalysis of rhenium(I) complex by light-harvesting periodic mesoporous organosilica.

This paper describes a new conceptual design for enhancement of photocatalytic CO(2) reduction of a rhenium(I) complex by light harvesting of periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO). Mesoporous biphenyl-silica (Bp-PMO) anchoring fac-[Re(I)(bpy)(CO)(3)(PPh(3))](+)(OTf)(-) (bpy =2,2'-bipyridine; OTf = CF(3)SO(3)) in the mesochannels was synthesized by co-condensation of two organosilane precursors, 4,4'-bis(triethoxysilyl)biphenyl and 4-[4-{3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylsulfanyl}butyl]-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine in the presence of a template surfactant, followed by coordination of a rhenium precursor, [Re(I)(CO)(5)(PPh(3))](+)(OTf)(-) to the bipyridine ligand in the mesochannels. The 280 nm light was effectively absorbed by the biphenyl groups in Bp-PMO, and the excited energy was funneled into the Re complex by resonance energy transfer, which enhanced photocatalytic CO evolution from CO(2) by a factor of 4.

A periodic mesoporous organosilica-based donor-acceptor system for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

A new solid-sate donor-acceptor system based on periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) has been constructed. Viologen (Vio) was covalently attached to the framework of a biphenyl (Bp)-bridged PMO. The diffuse reflectance spectrum showed the formation of charge-transfer (CT) complexes of Bp in the framework with Vio in the mesochannels.

Visible-light-harvesting periodic mesoporous organosilica.

Highly ordered periodic mesoporous organosilica synthesized from a newly designed 9(10H)-acridone bridged organosilane precursor exhibited efficient light-harvesting antenna properties for visible light, at wavelengths up to 450 nm.

Hole-transporting periodic mesostructured organosilica.

Hole-transporting framework is formed by surfactant-templated sol-gel polycondensation of an electroactive phenylenevinylene-based organosilane precursor. Molecular geometry of the three-armed precursor contributes to both formation of periodic mesostructures and introduction of hole conductivity in the organosilica hybrids. Electroactive organosilicas with mesopores and large surface areas have great potentials for novel photovoltaic and photocatalytic systems.

Light harvesting by a periodic mesoporous organosilica chromophore.

Light aqueduct: Periodic mesoporous organosilica exhibits strong light absorption due to densely packed organic chromophores within the pore walls. Light energy absorbed by 125 biphenyl groups in the pore walls is funneled into a single coumarin 1 molecule in the mesochannels with almost 100% quantum efficiency, and results in significant enhancement of emission from the coumarin 1 dye.

Fluorescence emission from 2,6-naphthylene-bridged mesoporous organosilicas with an amorphous or crystal-like framework.

We report that 2,6-naphthylene-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas exhibit unique fluorescence behavior that reflects molecular-scale periodicities in the framework. Periodic mesoporous organosilicas consisting of naphthalene-silica hybrid frameworks were synthesized by hydrolysis and condensation of a naphthalene-derived organosilane precursor in the presence of a template surfactant. The morphologies and meso- and molecular-scale periodicities of the organosilica materials strongly depend on the synthetic conditions.