Feng Yang

Extracting radioactive iodine from waste solutions and directly converting it into functional materials with controllable structures is crucial. We report a liquid-phase strategy for confined assembly of single-atom iodine chains inside single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). SWCNTs with diameters of 0.7–2.2 nm predominantly host single-atom chains, enabling charge transfer from tube walls to chains, forming I3– units and inducing positive charge delocalization on the tube surface, which is more pronounced in larger diameters. This charge delocalization makes large-diameter SWCNTs robust adsorbents for rapid iodine removal via electrostatic interactions across broad temperature (2–60 °C) and pH (1–5.6) ranges, achieving an exceptional removal rate (53.7 mgI2·gSWCNT–1·min–1) surpassing most reported adsorbents and enabling continuous-flow capture. The single-atom chain Ix@SWCNT also serves as a highly efficient and stable catalyst for thiol coupling, boosting the reaction rate 21-fold over homogeneous molecular I2. Spectroscopy and calculations elucidate the charge delocalization mechanism within Ix@SWCNT.

Delta manganese dioxide (δ‐MnO ₂ ) has been extensively investigated as an attractive cathode material for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to its large interlayer spacing that facilitates ion storage and transport. However, the random restacking of 2D MnO ₂ nanosheets significantly limits their accessible surface area and increases diffusion resistance, thereby severely degrading electrochemical performance. Herein, we report a scalable synthesis of 3D structured aerogels from defect‐rich MnO ₂ nanosheets via a divalent metal ion‐initiated self‐assembly process for durable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. The addition of metal ions enables MnO ₂ nanosheets in solution to assemble into a 3D network by neutralizing electrostatic repulsion and serving as intersheet linkers. The obtained 3D Mn vacancy‐rich MnO ₂ aerogel (A‐MnO ₂ ) cathode demonstrate greatly enhanced electrochemical performance, especially superior rate performance (146.3 mAh g ⁻¹ at 5 A g ⁻¹ ), and long‐term cycling stability (90.6% capacity retention after 5000 cycles at 5 A g ⁻¹ ). Moreover, the experimental analysis and theoretical calculations reveal that A‐MnO ₂ delivers improved conductivity, fast reaction kinetics, and superior structural stability, owing to abundant Mn vacancies and a 3D porous structure. This work may provide new insight for guiding the structural design of 2D electrode materials in AZIBs.

Nanofibrous architectures, a prominent class of one-dimensional nanomaterials, continue to captivate researchers in the exploration of novel nanofibrous materials and their diverse applications in nanotechnology. Creating crystalline nanofibers with inorganic walls capped by organic ligands is both critical and challenging, requiring precise structural control and consistent internal diameters. Herein, through anion-directed assembly, we demonstrate the controlled creation of semiconducting silver nanofibers with tunable and uniform internal diameters, exemplified by [V₃O₁₀@Ag₂₂(ⁱPrS)₁₄(CH₃COO)₂Cl]_n (Ag22-NF), [Cl₃@Ag₂₁(ⁱPrS)₁₄(PhCOO)₄]_n (Ag21-NF), and [Ag₆(ⁱPrS)₄(PhCOO)₂]_n (Ag6-NF). Importantly, Ag22-NF encapsulates V₃O₁₀^5- ions within a ∼ 6.52 Å diameter; Ag21-NF contains Cl^- and silver ions within a ∼ 5.69 Å diameter; and Ag6-NF is a hollow, template-free nanofiber with a diameter of ∼ 4.57 Å. These nanofibers were further fabricated through mechanical exfoliation of three distinct silver single crystals, preserving their well-ordered structural integrity and alignment with the bulk crystal architecture. As a concept-of-application, the field-effect transistor devices based on Ag6-NF exhibit high ratios of on to off current at ∼ 10⁴-10⁷, demonstrating the outstanding semiconducting performance. This work not only unveils a diverse array of connecting building units that generate nanofibers within three distinct assemblies but also elucidates the profound influence of template size on their optical properties, thereby exemplifying the intricacies of anion-directed design in controlled nanoscale synthesis.

Subnanometer metal cluster catalysts have garnered significant attention due to their multi-site synergistic catalytic capabilities. However, constrained by classical sintering theory, metal clusters are prone to sintering and growth, which makes it challenging for them to stably exist at high temperatures. Prevailing strategies predominantly focus on the synthesis pathways from atoms to clusters, while overlooking the bidirectional regulation potential of metal particle dynamic reconstruction. This study transcends conventional paradigms by proposing a reverse regulation strategy from particles to clusters. The disadvantage of high temperature is strategically converted into driving forces for particle dispersion through the rational design of catalytic environments and metal-support interactions. Through a comprehensive combination of in situ characterization techniques and theoretical calculations, the interfacial atomic migration pathways and energy evolution during dynamic dispersion are systematically investigated. Furthermore, the formation process and underlying mechanism of stable Ni clusters are elucidated. The optimized 10Ni/30La-CeO₂ catalyst exhibits a remarkably high H₂ production rate (500 °C, 279.2 mmol_H2·g_Ni^-1·min^-1) and exceptional thermal stability. This work not only provides a methodology for developing thermally stable cluster catalysts but also fundamentally reveals the mechanism of reverse sintering from the perspective of atomic migration kinetics and thermodynamic steady-state reconstruction.

Although magnetic systems with large spin quantum numbers are typically associated with classical magnetism, geometrical frustration can stabilize competing spin configurations, resulting in degenerate low-energy states and complex magnetic phases that emerge from the interplay between classical thermal fluctuations and residual quantum fluctuations. Here, a previously unreported S = 5/2 triangular lattice (TL) antiferromagnet, BaMnBe₂(BO₃)₂F₂, has been successfully designed based on a structural template and synthesized via the high-temperature flux method. The structure features magnetic layers built from equilateral TLs, where nearest-neighbor Mn²⁺ ions are separated by 4.63 Å within the ab plane and 7.80 Å along the c-axis. Zero-field specific heat measurements reveal two successive magnetic transitions at 0.57 and 0.72 K. Combined thermodynamic and magnetic susceptibility measurements, along with theoretical calculations, enable us to establish a magnetic phase diagram comprising multiple field-induced competing magnetic phases. Despite the large spin value of Mn²⁺, signatures of residual quantum fluctuations remain evident and influence the stabilization of these competing magnetic states. These results highlight BaMnBe₂(BO₃)₂F₂ as a large spin TL antiferromagnet for investigating frustrated magnetism and emergent quantum spin states.

The V-doped MoO _x subnanoclusters (∼0.7 nm) anchored on carboxylated CNTs modulate the MoO _x electronic structure, delivering 98% H ₂ O ₂ selectivity at 0.4 V with minimal decay over 10 h.

Equilateral triangular lattices (TLs) with antiferromagnetic interactions are ideal templates for inducing magnetic frustration, offering a platform to explore exotic quantum spin states, which are crucial for advancing quantum science and technology. However, few examples meet these structural criteria, and even fewer realize these fascinating physical properties. Here, we report four novel equilateral TL magnets by deliberately choosing the structural template and building blocks, namely, the molecular-brick chemical strategy. Magnetic ions are fixed on an equilateral TL via a three-fold rotation symmetry in the a-b plane and are eclipsed stacked along the c-axis. Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements reveal a long-range magnetic ordering in BaCoBe2(BO3)2F2 around 180 mK, while BaNiBe2(BO3)2F2 remains disordered at 140 mK. Furthermore, crystal orbital Hamilton population analysis shows that different molecular bricks exhibit distinct bonding characteristics, resulting in diverse magnetic properties. Our results demonstrate that the molecular-brick chemical strategy offers valuable insights for investigating geometrically frustrated magnets.