•Sandwich-like MIL-100(Fe)@Pt@MIL-100(Fe) nanoparticles were prepared by a simple method.•The nanoparticles show high catalytic activity and stability.•Synergistic effect can be accounted for the superiority of the nanoparticles.Separation and recycling of noble metal nanoparticles after catalytic reaction is critical to promote its application efficiency and cut down the cost. This work presents a facile synthesis strategy for the fabrication of sandwich-like MIL-100(Fe)@Pt@MIL-100(Fe) (denoted as S-Pt) nanoparticles with high stability and improved catalytic activity for hydrogenation of nitrophenol. MIL-100(Fe) acts as both carrier to make the catalyst easily separated and shield to protect the tiny Pt nanoparticles from leaching or aggregation during reaction. Moreover, mass transfer effect of the porous MIL-100(Fe) with its pore structure serving as nano-reactor is also benefit for promoting the catalytic efficiency.Download high-res image (197KB)Download full-size image

•Nanoscale MIL-100(Fe) particles were synthesized using glycol for the first time.•The MIL-100(Fe) nanospheres show uniform size and morphology.•The nanospheres exhibit good photocatalytic property for oxidation of benzene to phenol.This work presents MIL-100(Fe) nanoparticles synthesized using glycol with uniform size and morphology. This is the first report of nanoscale MOFs material synthesized using glycol. The MIL-100(Fe) particles have been characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and the results indicate that the MOFs particles show monodispersed nanospherical morphology. Photocatalytic study reveals that the MIL-100(Fe) nanospheres exhibit good oxidation ability of benzene to phenol under visible light irradiation with high selectivity.

•NiFeSe/C nanorod was obtained by selenylation of Ni/Fe metal-organic framework.•The nanorods can catalyze both H2 and O2 evolution showing bifunctionality.•The nanorods show high activity and stability for overall water splitting.Development of low-cost, highly active bifunctional catalyst for efficient overall water splitting based on earth-abundant metals is still a great challenging task. In this work, we report a NiFe-Se/C composite nanorod as efficient non-precious-metal electrochemical catalyst derived from direct selenylation of a mixed Ni/Fe metal-organic framework. The as-obtained catalyst requires low overpotential to drive 10 mA cm−2 for HER (160 mV) and OER (240 mV) in 1.0 M KOH, respectively, and its catalytic activity is maintained for at least 20 h. Moreover, water electrolysis using this catalyst achieves high water splitting current density of 10 mA cm−2 at cell voltage of 1.68 V.

•Ternary Ni(S0.41Se0.59)2 porous flakes array on carbon fiber cloth was developed.•The catalyst shows unique structure with high surface area and abundant active sites.•The catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic performance for HER.Development of efficient catalyst with low-cost, earth-abundant metals for sustainable hydrogen generation is still an intriguing challenge. Doping of cation or anion is regarded as an effective approach for ingenious modulation of chemical composition related to the electrocatalysts for improving their activity. Herein, a ternary Ni(S0.49Se0.51)2 porous flakes array on carbon fiber cloth (CFC) via simultaneous sulfuration and selenylation of Ni(OH)2 flakes. Owing to the synergistic effect between Ni, S and Se atoms, high surface area, abundant active site and good conductivity of the Ni(S0.49Se0.51)2/CFC, the as-synthesized catalyst requires lower overpotential (113 mV) than pure NiS2/CFC and NiSe2/CFC to drive 10 mA cm−2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 1.0 M KOH with good sustainability.

•Spindle-like MIL-88B(Fe) nanoparticles were synthesized.•The particles show uniform size and morphology.•MIL-88B(Fe) particles show excellent photocatalytic property for degradation of dyes.Iron(III) based nanoparticles MIL-88B(Fe) with spindle-like morphology were synthesized by a facile method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the MIL-88B(Fe) nanoparticles had an uniform size of about 385 nm in length and 195 nm in width. The obtained nanoparticles were further characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–vis). Moreover, as MIL-88B(Fe) shows obvious adsorption in the visible region, it has good degradation activity for methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RB) dye under visible light.MIL-88B(Fe) particles with spindle-like morphology were synthesized and showing good degradation activity for methylene blue and rhodamine B dye.

•A new In(III)-based complex was synthesized under hydrothermal condition.•Complex 1 presents a 2D porous (6, 3) layer structure.•The complex show tunable luminescence.A new Indium coordination polymer [In(pda)1.5(phen)]n1 based on 1,4-phenylenediacetic acid (H2pda) and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline was obtained under hydrothermal condition and further characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis and other physicochemical studies such as infrared spectrum (IR), elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Structure analysis reveals that complex 1 exhibits 2D porous (6,3) connected layer structure. Luminescent property of 1 was investigated both in the solid state and in different solvents and the results indicated that complex 1 demonstrates distinct solvent dependent luminescent property.

•A new Cu(II)-based complex was synthesized under hydrothermal condition.•Complex 1 presents a 3D network with jsm topology.•Complex 1 shows interesting degradation ability over methyl blue.A new coordination polymer [Cu(mip)(bpy)0.5]n (1) was obtained through reaction of 5-methylisophthalic acid (H2mip) and 4,4′-bipyridine (bpy) with copper nitrate under hydrothermal condition. X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis reveals that complex 1 exhibits a 3D network with jsm topology. Photocatalytic activity of the complex has also been characterized. Notably, complex 1 represents the rare example of visible-light-driven photocatalyst based on coordination polymer and shows good degradation ability over methylene blue (MB).A new Cu(II)-based coordination polymer exhibiting a 3D network with jsm topology and showing interesting degradation ability over methyl blue is reported.

By using 5-tert-butylisophthalic acid (H2tbip) and N,N′-bis-(4-pyridylmethyl) piperazine (bpmp), three coordination polymers formulated as {[Co(bpmp)(tbip)]·H2O}n (1), {[Ni(bpmp)1.5(tbip)(H2O)]·H2O}n (2), and {[Cd(bpmp)1.5(tbip)]·3H2O}n (3) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. All complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The results show that complex 1 presents a 3D 6-connected network. Complex 2 shows a three-fold interpenetrating framework based on subunits with {46.64}-bnn hexagonal BN topology while complex 3 shows a 2D → 3D polycatenation framework containing 2D bilayer motifs as the fundamental building units. The photocatalytic properties of complexes 1 and 2 have been evaluated and the results show that they are active as a catalyst for the decomposition of Rhodamine B under visible light. The photoluminescence properties of complex 3 were also assessed in the solid state at room temperature.

Four coordination polymers associated with 1,3-bis-(4-pyridyl) propane (bpp) and 5-methylisophthalic acid (H2mip) or 5-nitroisophthalic acid (H2nip) formulated as [Zn(bpp)(mip)]n (1), [Co(bpp)(mip)]n (2), [Zn2(bpp)2(nip)2]n (3) and [Co(bpp)(nip)(H2O)]n (4) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Single crystal analyses reveal that complex 1 presents a four-fold interpenetrating framework based on three-dimensional (3D) subunits with dia topology. Compound 2 has a 1D binuclear chain structure. Complex 3 shows 2D 44-sql layer structure packing in ABAB mode. Complex 4 exhibits a two-fold interpenetrating framework based on three-dimensional (3D) subunits with dia topology. These compounds have been characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and powder X-ray diffraction. In addition, the photoluminescence of 1 and 3 and magnetic properties of 2 and 4 were investigated.

•Two heterometallic complexes have been synthesized and characterized.•Complex 1 shows a two-dimensional bilayer structure containing (3,6) networks.•Complex 2 holds a three-dimensional heterometallic framework.•The fluorescence spectra of the complexes have also been investigated.Two new heterometallic coordination polymers: [Pb2Zn(btc)2(H2O)6] (1), [Pb2Cd(btc)2(H2O)2]·2H2O (2) (H3btc = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid) have been synthesized under hydrothermal condition and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, PXRD and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1, showing a two-dimensional (2D) bilayer structure containing (3,6) networks with the binuclear [Pb2O8] units acting as six-connected nodes. Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/a and features a heterometallic 3D framework. Solid state emission spectra of both the two compounds have also been studied at room temperature.

•A complex constructed from 5-methyisophthalic acid and 1,2-bis-(4-pyridyl) ethane ligands has been synthesized and characterized.•X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that complex 1 shows a threefold interpenetrating network based on dmp units (a 3D uninodal 4-connected net with the Schläfli symbol of (65.8)).•The fluorescence spectrum of the compound has also been investigated.A zinc(II) coordination complex [Zn(bpe)(mip)]·H2O (1), (H2 methylisophthalic acid, bpe = 1,2-bis-(4-pyridyl) ethane) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Analysis of the structure by single-crystal X-ray reveals that the complex 1 presents a three-dimensional (3D) threefold interpenetrating network based on dmp units (a 3D uninodal 4-connected net with the Schläfli symbol of (65.8)). The compound has been characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and powder X-ray diffraction. Solid state emission spectrum of the compound has also been studied at room temperature.

•Two polycatenated Ni(II) coordination polymers are synthesized.•The two complexes show interesting polycatenated structures.•Magnetic properties have been investigated.Two nickel coordination polymers formulated as [Ni2(bpe)3(nip)2]n (1) and {[Ni(bpmp)(nip)(H2O)]·3H2O}n (2) (where H2nip = 5-nitroisophthalic acid, bpe = 1,2-bis-(4-pyridyl) ethane and bpmp = N,N′-bis-(4-pyridyl-methyl) piperazine) have been synthesized under hydrothermal condition. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that complex 1 presents a novel three-dimensional (3D) parallel polycatenated framework assembled from two-dimensional bilayers with cuboids as the fundamental building units. Compound 2 shows unusual 2D → 3D inclined polycatenated framework consisting of two sets of equivalent 2D sql layers. The compounds have also been characterized by infrared spectra, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and powder X-ray diffraction. Magnetic studies reveal that these two compounds show similar antiferromagnetic interaction between Ni(II) ions.Crystal structures and magnetic properties of two novel Ni(II) complexes with interesting 3D parallel polycatenated framework containing two-dimensional bilayers or 2D → 3D inclined polycatenated structure consisting of 2D sql layers are reported.

•A Yb(III)–Zn(II) heterometallic complex was synthesized.•Complex 1 presents a three-fold 1D pseudo-nanotube architectures.•Photoluminescence property of the complex has also been investigated.A heterometallic coordination polymer formulated as [YbZn(btc)(OH)2(H2O)]·H2O (1), where H3btc = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid has been synthesized under hydrothermal condition. Single crystal analysis reveals that complex 1 presents a three-dimensional (3D) structure containing three-fold 1D pseudo-nanotube architectures. The complex has also been characterized by IR, PXRD, TG and elemental analysis. Moreover, solid-state photoluminescence property of the complex has also been investigated at room temperature.