Metal-organic frameworks of -hydroxybenzoic acid: synthesis, structure and ring opening polymerization capability.

Two new, isostructural, metal-organic frameworks {[Co(OCCHO)(DMF)]} and {[Mn(OCCHO)(DMF)]} have been synthesised and structurally characterized. Use of -hydroxybenzoic acid resulted in a three-dimensional MOF featuring a linker with a carboxylic group and a -hydroxyl group. Ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and δ-valerolactone has been performed using these MOFs as catalysts, and results compared with the known zinc MOF Zn(OCCHO).

Stimulus triggered release of actives from composite microcapsules based on sporopollenin from .

Smart drug delivery systems (SDDSs) are a paradigm shift in drug delivery, particularly in microencapsulation technology where the drug is released in response to an internal and/or external stimulus. In this study, a smart microencapsulation platform was developed using three different types of stimuli triggered release of a model active (rhodamine 6G) from sporopollenin from . Triggers were based on pH-, thermal- and near infrared light-sensitive polymer composition.

Combining isotope ratios for provenancing Viking Age iron artefacts in the British Isles: a pilot study.

Stable and radiogenic isotope analysis - particularly using lead isotope analysis (LIA) - has previously been shown to be a useful tool for the provenancing of ancient metal artefacts of silver and copper and its alloys, but less progress has been made in the provenancing of iron artefacts, despite their importance and frequency in the archaeological record. In this pilot study we investigate for the first time the possibilities of iron isotope analysis in combination with trace strontium isotope analysis and LIA for the provenancing of iron objects believed to be from the Viking Age in the British Isles. Previous studies have shown that analysis of each of these isotopes can contribute to provenancing iron artefacts, but they are not individually resolutory.

Encapsulation and thermal properties of composite phase change materials based on cobalt/nitrogen double-doped ZIF-67 derived carbon.

To solve the problems of easy leakage and weak thermal conductivity of single-phase change material, in this experiment, cobalt/nitrogen-doped ZIF-67 derived carbon (CoN-ZIF-C) was constructed as the carrier material, and paraffin was used as the phase change core material to construct thermally enhanced shaped composite phase change materials (P@CoN-ZIF-C). The composite PCMs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, isothermal nitrogen adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier infrared spectroscopy, and their performance was evaluated using transient planar heat source techniques, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal cycling tests. The results indicated that the impurities of the acid-washed porous carbon material were reduced and the loading of the paraffin was 60%, and the prepared P@CoN-ZIF-C had an excellent thermal performance.

Research progress on MOFs and their derivatives as promising and efficient electrode materials for electrocatalytic hydrogen production from water.

Hydrogen energy is considered to be the most potential "ultimate energy source" due to its high combustion calorific value, cleanliness, and pollution-free characteristics. Furthermore, the production of hydrogen the electrolysis of water has the advantages of simplicity, high efficiency, environmentally safe, and high-purity hydrogen. However, it is also associated with issues such as high-power consumption for the reaction and limited large-scale application of noble metal catalysts.

Conversion of bile salts from inferior emulsifier to efficient smart emulsifier assisted by negatively charged nanoparticles at low concentrations.

Bile salts (BS), one of the biological amphiphiles, are usually used as solubilizing/emulsifying agents of lipids or drugs. However, BS such as sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) can't stabilize an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion alone due to its unusual molecular structure. In this paper we report that these emulsifiers with poor emulsifying ability can be transformed to highly efficient emulsifiers by combining with negatively charged particles (silica or montmorillonite).

Two helices from one chiral centre - self organization of disc shaped chiral nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been prepared and surface-functionalized with a mixture of 1-hexanethiol co-ligands and chiral discogen ligands separated from a disulfide function a flexible spacer. Polarized optical microscopy together with differential scanning calorimetry showed that the organic corona of the nanocomposite forms a stable chiral discotic nematic phase with a wide thermal range. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction showed that gold NPs form a superlattice with 2 plane symmetry.

The role of intermolecular interactions in stabilizing the structure of the nematic twist-bend phase.

The understanding of the relationship between molecular structure and the formation of the nematic twist-bend phase is still at an early stage of development. This is mainly related to molecular geometry, while the correlation between the nematic twist-bend phase and the electronic structure is ambiguous. To explore the electronic effect on properties and stabilization of the nematic twist-bend phase we investigated 2',3'-difluoro-4,4''-dipentyl--terphenyl dimers (DTC5C).

Integrating field and laboratory approaches for ripple development in mixed sand-clay-EPS.

The shape and size of sedimentary bedforms play a key role in the reconstruction of sedimentary processes in modern and ancient environments. Recent laboratory experiments have shown that bedforms in mixed sand-clay develop at a slower rate and often have smaller heights and wavelengths than equivalent bedforms in pure sand. This effect is generally attributed to cohesive forces that can be of physical origin, caused by electrostatic forces of attraction between clay minerals, and of biological origin, caused by 'sticky' extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by micro-organisms, such as microalgae (microphytobenthos) and bacteria.

Long-term ambient air-stable cubic CsPbBr perovskite quantum dots using molecular bromine.

We report unprecedented phase stability of cubic CsPbBr quantum dots in ambient air obtained by using Br as halide precursor. Mechanistic investigation reveals the decisive role of temperature-controlled generated, oleylammonium halide species from molecular halogen and amine for the long term stability and emission tunability of CsPbX (X = Br, I) nanocrystals.