The alarming increase in atmospheric CO2 levels, driven by fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes, is a major contributor to climate change. Effective technologies for selective CO2 removal are urgently needed, especially for industrial gas streams like flue gas and biogas, which contain impurities such as N2 and CH4. In this study, we designed and synthesized molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) using 4-vinylpyridine(4VP) and methacrylic acid(MAA) as functional monomers, and thiophene(Th) and formaldehyde(HC) as molecular templates. The MIPs were engineered to create selective molecular cavities within a nanoporous polymer matrix for efficient CO2 capture. By adjusting the molar ratios of the template to the functional monomers, we optimized the imprinting process to enhance CO2 selectivity over N2&CH4. The resulting MIPs exhibited excellent performance, achieving a maximum CO2/N2 selectivity of 153 at 25 bar and CO2/CH4 selectivity of 25.3 at 1 bar, significantly surpassing previously reported porous polymers and metal-organic frameworks(MOFs) under similar conditions. Heat of adsorption studies confirmed the strong and selective interaction of CO2 with the imprinted cavities, demonstrating the superior adsorption properties of the synthesized MIPs. This study highlights the potential of molecular imprinting for improving CO2 capture capacity and selectivity, offering a scalable solution for industrial CO2 separation.

Injectable hydrogels are a sub-type of hydrogels which can be delivered into the host in a minimally invasive manner. They can act as carriers to encapsulate and deliver cells, drugs or active biomolecules across several disease conditions. Polymers, either synthetic or natural, or even a combination of the two, can be used to create injectable hydrogels. Clinically approved injectable hydrogels are being used as dressings for burn wounds, bone and cartilage reconstruction. Injectable hydrogels have recently gained tremendous attention for their delivery into the liver in pre-clinical models. However, their efficacy in clinical studies remains yet to be established. In this article, we describe principles for the design of these injectable hydrogels, delivery strategies and their potential applications in facilitating liver regeneration and ameliorating injury. We also discuss the several constraints related to translation of these hydrogels into clinical settings for liver diseases and deliberate some potential solutions to combat these challenges.

This review highlights important research on anion coordination chemistry for materials applications over the last decade. This field has numerous applications in various areas, such as the environment, industry, and medicine. Despite its enormous potential, real-world applicability is still pending. However, there has been a new trajectory in the field recently, with rapid advancement in designing sophisticated molecular systems for various materials applications. To keep track of this dynamic advancement, we have discussed some outstanding research work with enormous potential for materials applications in the near future.

The application of seawater splitting is crucial for hydrogen production; therefore, efficient electrocatalysts are necessary to prevent chlorine evolution and severe corrosion. A synergistic method is employed on CoFe LDH by integrating a conductive Ti3C2Tx MXene layer and subsequently applying anionic modulation. Robust metal-substrate interaction along with subsequent phosphidation facilitates efficient electron transfer and optimises the electronic structure of Co and Fe sites. The CoFe-P-1000@Ti3C2Tx/CC demonstrates commendable electrochemical performance, requiring overpotentials of 106.6 mV and 276 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at 10 mA cm-2 in 1M KOH electrolyte, while 292 mV is necessary for OER in a simulated seawater electrolyte (1 M KOH + 0.5 M NaCl). Furthermore, the CoFe-P-1000@Ti3C2Tx/CC exhibits an encouraging cell voltage of 1.59 V (j = 10 mA cm-2) for comprehensive alkaline seawater splitting, maintaining exceptional stability for over 50 hours.

Conventional zeolites are limited in their ability to catalyze macromolecular reactions due to micropore constraints, resulting in sluggish reactant and product diffusion and subsequently pore clogging and catalyst deactivation. Consequently, the pore and textural refinement of zeolites to meet industrial demands has become a research hotspot. Herein, we review the amino acid-assisted methods in zeolite synthesis and scrutinize the principle and influential factors governing amino acid involvement in zeolite synthesis. Additionally, we analyze the advantages and challenges associated with the amino acid-assisted method. Certain amino acids can interact with zeolite precursors or crystal surface, thus altering the crystal growth rate and enabling precise control over the crystal size and shape. On the other hand, amino acids can serve as structure-directing agents to orchestrate the generation of mesoporous pores. These capabilities enable the production of zeolites with well-defined pores, particle sizes and/or crystal shapes that satisfy catalytic requirements. Moreover, the unique properties of amino acids allow their complete elimination from the solid product through a simple aqueous washing process, facilitating their recovery for subsequent usage. As result, the amino acid-assisted synthesis methods offer a convenient, green route to zeolites with modulated textual properties for high-performance catalysis.

An efficient Mn(III)-promoted phosphorylation of dehydroalanine (Dha) has been developed to give unusual α-amino acids bearing phosphonates/phosphine oxides and β-vinyl phosphonates/phosphinates depending on N-protection of amino acid. N,N-diprotected dehydroalanine reacted with H-phosphonates and H-phosphine oxides to give structurally diverse phosphorylated α-amino acids through conjugate addition of phosphorous radical generated by Mn(OAc)3.2H2O. Whereas, a highly Z-selective phosphorylation was observed in the case of mono N-Boc protected dehydroalanine via cross dehydrogenative coupling to give (Z)- β -vinyl phosphono amino acid. The method is successfully applied to short peptides to derive unusual phosphono-peptides under mild conditions.

One of the most promising approaches in solving the energy crisis and reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions is artificial photosynthetic CO2 reduction. The electrochemical method for CO2 reduction is more appealing since it can be operated under ambient conditions, and the product selectivity strongly depends on the applied potential. Perovskites with ferroelectric properties strongly adsorb linear CO2 molecules. In this study, barium titanate (BaTiO3) perovskite is used as an electrocatalyst to promote CO2 activation and conversion to CO. Perovskite catalysts were prepared by ball-milling followed by annealing at 900 °C for 4 to 6 h in an open atmosphere. The TEM and SEM study shows that the particle size varies in the range of 80-200 nm. Mixed phases of BaTiO3 and BaTi5O11 supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes are found to be highly active for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to CO with maximum Faradaic efficiency of 89.4% at -1.0 V versus Ag/AgCl in CO2 saturated 0.5 KOH solution. This study concludes that mixed phases of BaTiO3 and BaTi5O11 are more active and highly selective for CO2 conversion to CO compared to single-phase BaTiO3.

Controlling the redox states of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is important for the optimization of their real performances in various fields. By means of in situ photoluminescence (PL) spectroelectrochemical measurements, we report a successful modulation for the redox parameters (redox potentials and electrochemical band gap) of (6,5) and (7,5)SWNTs with a simple change in conjugated polymers (CPs) non-covalently wrapped on the nanotubes. The large shift in the band gap (187 meV for (6,5)SWNTs and 101 meV for (7,5)SWNTs) was connected to the prominent difference in the interactions between the CPs and SWNTs as suggested by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, while a striking difference in the 𝜋-electrons states of CP/SWNTs enabled the tuning of SWNTs' electronic states. Asymmetrical modulation for the reduction potential (LUMO) and oxidation potential (HOMO) of the SWNTs was observed as well. Our results can be promising for a simple but precise control of the electric states of SWNTs.

The increasing global energy demand and environmental pollution necessitate the development of alternative, sustainable energy sources. Hydrogen production through electrochemical methods offers a carbon-free energy solution. In this study, we have designed novel boron nitride analogues (BNyne) and investigated their stability and electronic properties. Furthermore, the incorporation of transition metals (TM) at holey sites in these analogues was explored, revealing their potential as promising electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The inclusion of transition metals significantly enhances their structural stability and electronic properties. The TM-anchored BNynes exhibit optimal Gibbs free energy changes (ΔGH) for effective HER performance. Additionally, the favorable alignment of d-band centers near the Fermi level supports efficient hydrogen adsorption. Machine learning models, particularly the Random Forest model, have also been employed to predict ΔGH values with high accuracy, capturing the complex relationships between material properties and HER efficiency. This dual approach underscores the importance of integrating advanced computational techniques with material design to accelerate the discovery of effective HER catalysts. Our findings highlight the potential of these tailored boron nitride analogues to enhance electrocatalytic applications and improve HER efficiency.

Chemistry has traditionally focused on the synthesis of desired compounds, with organic synthesis being a key method for obtaining target molecules. In contrast, self-assembly -where molecules spontaneously organize into well-defined structures- has emerged as a powerful tool for fabricating intricate structures. Self-assembly was initially studied in biological systems but has been developed for synthetic methods, leading to the field of supramolecular chemistry, where non-covalent interactions/bonds guide molecular assembly. This has led to the development of complex molecular structures, such as metal-organic frameworks and hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks. Parallel to this field, cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), developed in the mid-20th century, has recently intersected with molecular assembly. Early research in cavity strong coupling focused on inorganic solids and simple molecules, but has since extended to molecular assemblies. The strong coupling synergized with molecular assembly will generate new polaritonic phenomena and applications.

Covalent organic cages (COCs) have recently gained massive attention owing to their solution processability and structural flexibility. Herein, we report an amine-linked fluorescent COC (COC2) synthesized by adopting dynamic covalent imine chemistry followed by imine bond reduction and characterized with different spectroscopic techniques. The COC2 was utilized for highly sensitive and selective detection of picric acid at the nanomolar level. The fluorescence quenching efficiency of PA towards the COC2 is 98.6%, with a detection limit of 2.7 nM. PA sensing with the COC2, coated on a TLC plate and paper strip, exhibited an outstanding fluorescence quenching property. Furthermore, the COC2 unveiled solid-state acidochromism upon exposure to HCl acid fumes and was transferred back to the original form on exposure to NH3 vapours.

As a promising photovoltaic (PV) technology, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have made significant progress in attaining high PCE, while challenges remain regarding stability and low cost. Conventional PSCs using noble metals (e.g., Au and Ag) as back electrodes and transparent conducting oxides as front electrodes contribute significantly to their high costs. PSCs comprising biomass-derived materials, such as biocarbon as back electrodes and flexible and transparent cellulosic substrates as front electrodes, offer a promising solution to address these issues. These approaches have the potential to simultaneously improve stability and decrease manufacturing costs, making PSCs closer to commercialization. This review article furnishes a comprehensive overview of recent developments in biocarbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs), focusing on various biomass-derived biocarbon materials utilized as back electrodes in different C-PSCs device structures. This article also compiles the advancement of flexible and transparent cellulosic substrate-based PSCs by highlighting the fundamentals of PSC and C-PSC architectures, the basics of biomass, and the synthesis of biocarbon. Finally, this review discusses the current challenges and future research directions for optimizing biocarbon materials and cellulosic substrates in PSC technology.

Donor-acceptor in linear π-conjugated systems elicits the intramolecular charge transfer which improves the optical and electronic characteristics. Nevertheless, linear arrangement of electron donor and acceptor finely tune the charge or electron transfer process divulges the device performance. Therefore, molecular engineering of appropriate D-A with precise spacer is indeed challenging. Herein, we synthesized two bispyrene derivatives and attached with benzothiadazole and phenyl group through imidazole spacer (PyBTD and PyBz). PyBTD has shown solvatochromism demonstrates the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) from pyrene to benzothiadiazole while PyBz remains as pristine spectra. Microscopic images reveal that network-type structures for PyBTD and elongated nanorods from self-assemblies of PyBz. Subsequently, host-guest interactions suggest that C60 was encapsulated in concave shaped bispyrene controls their crystallinity in nanostructures leads short nanosheets. Impedance analyses depict ICT assisted nanowires facilitate improved conductivity than host-guest complex. Therefore, imidazole spacer between D-A systems paves the way to design such type of molecules for future generated optoelectronics.

Unlike traditional multi-step synthetic approaches, we developed a single-step synthesis of versatile π-conjugated building blocks bearing post-functionalizable C-H and C-Br bonds. Direct C-H arylation of 3-bromothiophene with various iodo(hetero)aryls was successfully carried out with good regio- and chemo-selectivity. Under optimized reaction conditions, 20 new compounds were facilely prepared in yields up to 91%. One of the obtained compounds was demonstrated to further extend its conjugation length using a succinct synthetic plan to create two symmetrical oligo(hetero)aryls (MLC01 and MLC02) that were fabricated as effective hole-transporting materials (HTM) for perovskite solar cells (PSC). PSC devices utilizing MLC01 as hole-transport layer displayed promising power conversion efficiencies of up to 17.01%.

The documented work highlighted the synthesis of bis(benzotriazol-1-yl) methane derivatives using silicomolybdic acid (SMA) and successfully implemented in the stereoselective synthesis of diverse pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-one and pyridyl isoindolinones derivatives in one-pot. The pyridinamide precursor with diverse alkynes furnished Z-selectivity of pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-one across exocyclic C=C bond while the various benzamides on treating with 2-ethynyl pyridine afforded (E)-pyridylisoindoline-1-ones as a major isomer. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction provides strong evidence in favor of the existence and orientation of developed compounds. The broad substrate scope, easy accessibility of substrates, high stereoselectivity, scale-up synthesis, and crystal evidence demonstrate the merits of the current decorum.

Nickel-rich cobalt-free LiNi0.9Mn0.05Al0.05O2 (NMA955) is considered a promising cathode material to address the scarcity and soaring cost of cobalt. Particle size and elemental composition significantly impact the electrochemical performance of NMA955 cathodes. However, differences in precipitation rates among metal ions coveys a challenge in obtaining cathode materials with the desired particle size and composition via hydroxide co-precipitation synthesis. Utilizing complexing agents like ammonia offers an effective strategy to tackle these issues. Here, we investigate the optimal ammonia concentration to achieve moderate particle size and precise material composition. Although ammonia only forms complex coordination with transition metals, its concentration also affects the final product's precipitation and composition, including aluminum. This study shows that ammonia serves a dual function in NMA synthesis via hydroxide co-precipitation, i.e., regulating particle size and adjusting elemental composition. It was found that an ammonia concentration of 1.2 M achieved optimal particle size and composition, resulting in superior electrochemical performance. NMA955 synthesized in 1.2 M ammonia demonstrated a high specific capacity of 188.12 mAh g-1 at 0.1C, retained 71.16% of its capacity after 200 cycles at 0.2C, and delivered 110.30 mAh g-1 at 5C. These results suggest tuning ammonia concentration is crucial for producing high-performance cathode materials.

A π-extended cyclobutenofullerene containing an N,N-dimethylanilinoethynyl group was synthesized via a one-pot cascade reaction of C60 with the corresponding propargylic phosphate. The cyclobutenofullerene was further modified using either one-pot or sequential post-functionalization methods, yielding derivatives containing altered addend structures. During one-pot post-functionalization, hydration reaction of the alkyne moiety continued after the formation of cyclobutenofullerenes. The sequential post-functionalization approach involved introducing the tetracyanobutadiene structure through formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition and a subsequent retroelectrocyclization reaction with tetracyanoethylene. The electronic and optical properties of the derivatives in solution, as well as their field-effect transistor behavior in thin films, were thoroughly assessed to elucidate the optoelectronic differences arising from various addend structures. The properties of the three characteristic cyclobutenofullerene derivatives in the solution and thin films significantly varied depending on the addends. Among the three derivatives studied, only cyclobutenofullerene, featuring a folded structure induced by the hydration of the alkyne moiety, exhibited n-type semiconductor behavior in the thin films. The findings of this study present a novel methodology for synthesizing and functionalizing fullerene derivatives, together with a conceptual framework for tailoring molecular properties.

In this study, we focus on the designability and controllability of the interaction interface between secondary structures, and discover an important interface interaction between helical secondary structures by non-covalent synthesis along the helical axis. The formation of discrete heterochiral dimers consisting of left-handed helix and right-handed helix not only helps to discover nonclassical supramolecular chirality phenomena, but also enables controllable protein assembly. Highly ordered nanostructures were thus constructed using p-stacking dimerization of helical foldamers to control tetrameric avidin proteins. The designable and modifiable primitives of artificial folded molecules enable the modification of secondary structure interfaces through non-covalent interactions, leading to the generation of unique structures and functions. These findings are of fundamental importance to the understanding of the precise assembly process of helical foldamers and can provide insights to facilitate the rational design of abiotic protein-like tertiary structures and further functionalization.

Tuning the electronic structure of catalysts is an efficient approach to optimize the catalytic performance of CO2 electroreduction. Herein, we constructed an efficient catalyst consisted of amorphous InOX with cottonlike structure spreading on N doped carbon (N-C) substrate to extend the catalysts-substrate interfaces for enhancing electron-transfer effect. The amorphous InOX growing on N-C substrate (InOX/N-C) exhibited an improved current density of -34.4 mA cm-2. Notably, a faradaic efficiency for formate (HCOO-) over the amorphous InOX/N-C reached 79.6% at -1.0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, 1.8 times as high as that (44.2%) over the amorphous InOX growing on carbon black substrate. Mechanistic studies revealed that the introduction of N-C as substrates accelerated charge-transfer process on the catalytic surface of InOX/N-C. Density functional theory calculations further revealed that the interactions between N-C substrate and InOX not only facilitated the potential-determining *HCOO protonation, but also inhabited hydrogen evolution, thus improving the catalytic performance for the production of HCOO-.

Sn(IV) complex of N-Confused Porphyrin (Sn(IV)-NCP) has been prepared and characterized by several spectroscopic techniques to verify its structure and purity. Sn(IV)-NCP shows a red shift in both the Soret and Q bands compared to the free base NCTPP. The last Q band appears in the NIR region. Based on these characteristics, we investigated the antiproliferative properties and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (a-PDT) efficiency of Sn(IV)-NCP against the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Further, we investigated the photodynamic activity of Sn (IV)-NCP against Michigan cancer foundation-7 (MCF-7) cancer cells, to assess its potential as an effective therapeutic agent. Treated MCF-7 cells with the compound show cytotoxic effects as compared to the untreated ones. At a higher concentration (128 µg/ml), Sn(IV)-NCP exhibited 90% inhibition, while at a lower concentration (32 µg/ml), it showed 70% inhibition in MCF-7 cells. The IC50 value for this compound against MCF-7 cells was found 16.67 µg/ml. At 32 µg/ml, Sn(IV)-NCP showed only around 4% cell inhibition, indicating minimal cytotoxic effects on human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293).

The proliferation of lithium dendrites has long posed a formidable hurdle in the widespread adoption of lithium metal batteries, thereby necessitating the urgent resolution of how to effectively mitigate their growth as the paramount challenge in the realm of energy storage. Herein, we have crafted a novel sandwich-structured current collector comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer (EVA)/Cu2O/Cu configuration, where the EVA thin film acts as a protective barrier, passivating the lithium metal anode, while the Cu2O layer fosters lithiophilic sites conducive to uniform lithium nucleation. Our experiments reveal that the EVA thin film adeptly prevents direct contact and subsequent reactions between the lithium metal and the electrolyte, enhancing the ion mobility of Li+ ions, ultimately leading to a even distribution of lithium deposition. In a Li-Cu half-cell, the incorporation of the EVA film increases the nucleation potentials but dramatically reduces polarization potentials after 50 cycles of charge-discharge processes. Remarkably, the Li-Cu half-cells equipped with EVA-coated current collectors exhibit lower electrochemical resistances, translating into significantly extended cycle lives. This work indicates the sandwich architecture (thin film/lithium metal/lithiophilic compounds) is a promising contender for achieving long-lasting, stable lithium anodes.