The precise control of nanostructures, assembly processing, and the size of each component is important for the construction of integrated functional nanocomposites. In this paper, we describe a simple two-step method for the synthesis of novel flower-like nanocomposites (AuNPs/NiSiO) composed of well-dispersed and size-controlled Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) immobilized on hierarchically structured layered nickel silicate (NiSiO). The as-prepared AuNPs/NiSiO nanocomposites exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The experimental results proved that the size of AuNPs played an important role in enhancing the catalytic activity. In particular, there was no visible decrease in the catalytic activity of the reused catalysts even after being recycled five times. Therefore, the hierarchically nanostructured material can be a promising candidate as the catalytic support.

High-quality I–III–VI semiconductor supported Au particles have first been successfully synthesized via a simple seeded growth approach. Compared with the catalytic performance of the two obtained hybrids of Au–AgInS2 and –CuInS2, it is found that sample Au–AgInS2 shows higher photocatalytic activity towards the reduction of 4-nitrophenol by NaBH4. However, sample Au–CuInS2 exhibited a much better performance on oxidation of 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine di-hydrochloride in the presence of H2O2, indicating their strong composition-related catalytic properties.

Twelve new metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, [Cd(L)(H2O)] (1), [Cd(L)2Na2]·H2O (2), [Cd(L)(phen)] (3), [Cd(L)(phen)]·2H2O (4), [Cd2(L)2(biim-2)]·H2O (5), [Cd(L)(biim-4)]·2H2O (6), [Co(L)(biim-4)]·H2O (7), [Cd(L)(btp)] (8), [Cd(L)(btb)] (9), [Cd(HL)(bth)0.5(H2O)]·H2O (10), [Co(HL)(btb)0.5]·H2O (11), and [Cd(L)(btbp)1.5]·4H2O (12), where phen = 1,10-phenathroline, biim-2 = 1,2-bis(imidazol-1′-yl)ethane, biim-4 = 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole), btp = 1,3-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propane, btb = 1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butane, bth = 1,6-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)hexane, btbp = 4,4′-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)biphenyl, and H2L = (3-carboxyl-phenyl)-(4-(2′-carboxyl-phenyl)-benzyl) ether, have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Their structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and further characterized by infrared spectra (IR), elemental analyses, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses. Compound 1 features a two-dimensional (2D) layer, which is further stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the coordinated water molecules and adjacent carboxylate oxygen atoms. Compound 2 shows a 2D double layer with 36·46·53 topology. Compounds 3 and 4 exhibit similar one-dimensional (1D) double chains, which are further extended into 2D supramolecular sheets and three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular frameworks through π–π interactions between pyridyl rings and phenyl rings, respectively. Compound 5 furnishes a 1D double chain, which is further extended into a 2D supramolecular layer via two kinds of π–π interactions. Compounds 6 and 7 are isostructural and display the same 2D undulated sheets with 44·62 topology. Compound 8 possesses a 2D sheet structure. Compound 9 displays 3D (3,4)-connected frameworks with (4·102)(4·103·122) topology. Compounds 10 and 11 possess similar 1D infinite chains, which are further linked via π–π interactions to generate 2D supramolecular layers. Compound 12 possesses a 2D double layer, which is further extended into a 3D supramolecular architecture through hydrogen-bonding interactions. The structural and topological differences of the 12 compounds indicate that the L anion and N-donor ligands play important roles in the formation of the final framework structures. The thermal behaviors of compounds 1, 3–4, 8–10, and 12 and luminescent properties of 1–6, 8–10, and 12 have also been investigated in detail.

Bi2Te3 nanoplates with a thickness of 15–20 nm and self-assembled flower-like nanostructures using previous nanoplates as building blocks have been fabricated through a low-cost hydrothermal method with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as an additive. The structures and morphologies of the samples were characterized viaX-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) measurements. The growth mechanisms have been proposed based on the experimental results. The nanoplates and flower-like Bi2Te3 nanocrystals (NCs) with no residual additives were consolidated by high pressure to an n-type nanostructured bulk material with preserved crystal grain sizes. Moreover, self-assembly NCs show higher thermoelectric properties than the nanoplates. The power factors and thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of chemically synthesized flower-like Bi2Te3 NCs were improved up to 8.6 μW cm−1K−2 and 0.7, respectively, which possess the potential to design new materials and devices for thermoelectric applications.

A novel coordination polymer Ag4L2(4,4′-bpy)(H2O)2·6H2O (1) (H2L = bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxydiimide, 4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine) has been synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 exhibits a two-fold interpenetrated array. Remarkably, adjacent sets of 2D interpenetrating sheets are ultimately cross-linked into an unusual three-dimensional self-penetrating network when ligand-unsupported Ag–Ag bonds are taken into account. Theoretical computational methods were applied to further identify argentophilic interactions in this structure. Additionally, thermal stability analysis and luminescent property of this compound are also studied in this paper.

A novel three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic framework, [Cd2(HL)(H2O)2]·H3O·0.25(imi) 1, (H6L = 5,5′,5″-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)trismethylene-trisoxy-triisophthalic acid and imi = imidazole) has been prepared under hydrothermal condition. Compound 1 possesses a 3D (3,5)-connected framework with (52·8)(5·6·8)(6·82)(52·6·85·9·10) topology. The thermogravimetric and luminescent properties have also been studied for the compound.A novel three-dimensional (3,5)-connected metal-organic framework, [Cd2(HL)(H2O)2]·H3O·0.25(imi) 1, has been hydrothermally synthesized, where the thermogravimetric and luminescent properties have also been discussed for the compound.Highlights► The 3D net contains one-dimensional rectangular-shaped channels. ► The structure displays a rare (3,5)-connected (52·8)(5·6·8)(6·82)(52·6·85·9·10) topology. ► The emission of 1 may be attributed to the intraligand charge transfer of HL anion.

Two new coordination compounds, [Cd5(L)2(OH)Cl3]·7H2O (1) and [Pb3(L)2]·3H2O (2) (H3L = 2,4,6-tris[1-(3-carboxy-2-oxidroxypyridinium)-ylmethyl]-mesitylene), have been synthesized under similar hydrothermal conditions. Their structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and further characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, and thermogravimetric analyses. In 1, two L anions bridge five Cd(II) atoms in μ4-η1:η1:η1:η1:η1:η1 coordination modes to furnish an unusual pentanuclear Cd(II) cluster. In 2, each L anion links five Pb(II) atoms in a μ5-η0:η1:η1:η0:η2:η1:η0:η2:η1 coordination fashion to generate a fascinating 3D trinodal 4-connected net with point symbol of (62·84)(4·63·82)(42·62·82). The differences between 1 and 2 indicate that metal centers may have significant effects on their final structures. In addition, compound 1 shows an emission at 404 nm when it was excitated at 341 nm.Through the variations of the central metals, an unusual pentanuclear Cd(II) cluster and a 3D 4-connected framework based on a flexible tricarboxylate have been synthesized under the similar hydrothermal conditions.Highlights► Compound 1 displays an unusual 0D pentanuclear Cd(II) cluster structure. ► Compound 2 exhibits a 3D 4-connected (62·84)(4·63·82)(42·62·82) topology. ► The central metals play significant roles in the formation of the final structures.

The precise control of nanostructures, assembly processing, and the size of each component is important for the construction of integrated functional nanocomposites. In this paper, we describe a simple two-step method for the synthesis of novel flower-like nanocomposites (AuNPs/NiSiO) composed of well-dispersed and size-controlled Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) immobilized on hierarchically structured layered nickel silicate (NiSiO). The as-prepared AuNPs/NiSiO nanocomposites exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The experimental results proved that the size of AuNPs played an important role in enhancing the catalytic activity. In particular, there was no visible decrease in the catalytic activity of the reused catalysts even after being recycled five times. Therefore, the hierarchically nanostructured material can be a promising candidate as the catalytic support.

High-quality I–III–VI semiconductor supported Au particles have first been successfully synthesized via a simple seeded growth approach. Compared with the catalytic performance of the two obtained hybrids of Au–AgInS2 and –CuInS2, it is found that sample Au–AgInS2 shows higher photocatalytic activity towards the reduction of 4-nitrophenol by NaBH4. However, sample Au–CuInS2 exhibited a much better performance on oxidation of 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine di-hydrochloride in the presence of H2O2, indicating their strong composition-related catalytic properties.