Crystals, Volume 8, Issue 1 (January 2018) – 49 articles

Four anthracene-based lanthanide metal-organic framework structures (MOFs) were synthesized from the combination of the lanthanide ions, Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, Er³⁺, and Tm³⁺, with 9,10-anthracenedicarboxylic acid (H₂ADC) in dimethylformamide (DMF) under hydrothermal conditions. The 3-D networks crystalize in the triclinic system with P-1 space group with the following compositions: (i) {{[Ln₂(ADC)₃(DMF)₄·DMF]}_n, Ln = Eu (1) and Tb (2)} and (ii) {{[Ln₂(ADC)₃(DMF)₂(OH₂)₂·2DMF·H₂O]}_n, Ln = Er (3) and Tm (4)}. The metal centers exist in various coordination environments; nine coordinate in (i), while seven and eight coordinate in (ii). The deprotonated ligand, ADC, assumes multiple coordination modes, with its carboxylate functional groups severely twisted away from the plane of the anthracene moiety. The structures show ligand-based photoluminescence, which appears to be significantly quenched when compared with that of the parent H₂ADC solid powder. Structure 2 is the least quenched and showed an average photoluminescence lifetime from bi-exponential decay of 0.3 ns. On exposure to ionizing radiation, the structures show radioluminescence spectral features that are consistent with the isolation of the ligand units in its 3-D network. The spectral features vary among the 3-D networks and appear to suggest that the latter undergo significant changes in their molecular and/or electronic structure in the presence of the ionizing radiation. Full article

Substitution of methanol in [Zn(quin)₂(CH₃OH)₂] (quin⁻ denotes an anionic form of quinoline-2-carboxylic acid, also known as quinaldinic acid) with pyridine (Py) or its substituted derivatives, 3,5-lutidine (3,5-Lut), nicotinamide (Nia), 3-hydroxypyridine (3-Py-OH), 3-hydroxymethylpyridine (3-Hmpy), 4-hydroxypyridine (4-Py-OH) and 4-hydroxymethylpyridine (4-Hmpy), afforded a series of novel heteroleptic complexes with compositions [Zn(quin)₂(Py)₂] (1), [Zn(quin)₂(3,5-Lut)₂] (2), [Zn(quin)₂(Nia)₂]·2CH₃CN (3), [Zn(quin)₂(3-Py-OH)₂] (4), [Zn(quin)₂(3-Hmpy)₂] (5), [Zn(quin)₂(4-Pyridone)] (6) (4-Pyridone = a keto tautomer of 4-hydroxypyridine), and [Zn(quin)₂(4-Hmpy)₂] (7). In all reactions, the {Zn(quin)₂} structural fragment with quinaldinate ions bound in a bidentate chelating manner retained its structural integrity. With the exception of [Zn(quin)₂(4-Pyridone)] (6), all complexes feature a six-numbered coordination environment of metal ion that may be described as a distorted octahedron. The arrangement of ligands is trans. The coordination sphere of zinc(II) in the 4-pyridone complex consists of only three ligands, two quinaldinates, and one secondary ligand. The metal ion thereby attains a five-numbered coordination environment that is best described as a distorted square-pyramid (τ parameter equals 0.39). The influence of substituents on the pyridine-based ligand over intermolecular interactions in the solid state is investigated. Since pyridine and 3,5-lutidine are not able to form hydrogen-bonding interactions, the solid state structures of their complexes, [Zn(quin)₂(Py)₂] (1) and [Zn(quin)₂(3,5-Lut)₂] (2), are governed by π···π stacking, C–H∙∙∙π, and C–H∙∙∙O intermolecular interactions. With other pyridine ligands possessing amide or hydroxyl functional groups, the connectivity patterns in the crystal structures of their complexes are governed by hydrogen bonding interactions. Thermal decomposition studies of novel complexes have shown the formation of zinc oxide as the end product. Full article

In previous studies, it has been reported that the crystalline product precipitated from the reaction of aqueous solutions of lead(II) salts with sodium oxotellurate(IV) is hydrous lead(II) oxotellurate(IV); however, there have been conflicting specifications of the water content, and the crystal structure of the product is yet undetermined. During the present study, it was shown that the precipitated material does not contain any structural water and in fact represents the third modification (denoted as γ-) of PbTeO₃, as revealed by thermal analysis, vibrational spectroscopy, single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. This modification crystallizes in the space group P $\overline{1}$ with five formula units in the asymmetric unit, comprising off-centred coordination polyhedra around the Pb^II cations (coordination numbers: 5–7 with Pb-O distances ranging from 2.3–3.0 Å), and trigonal-pyramidal TeO₃²⁻ units. The thermal behaviour and structural phase transitions of PbTeO₃ were investigated by means of temperature-dependent X-ray powder diffraction and complementary thermal analysis measurements. In addition, the crystal structure of β-PbTeO₃ was redetermined, and a comparison was made between the three known polymorphs of PbTeO₃. Full article

Many biomineralization systems start from transient amorphous precursor phases, but the exact crystallization pathways and mechanisms remain largely unknown. The study of a well-defined biomimetic crystallization system is key for elucidating the possible mechanisms of biomineralization and monitoring the detailed crystallization pathways. In this review, we focus on amorphous phase mediated crystallization (APMC) pathways and their crystallization mechanisms in bio- and biomimetic-mineralization systems. The fundamental questions of biomineralization as well as the advantages and limitations of biomimetic model systems are discussed. This review could provide a full landscape of APMC systems for biomineralization and inspire new experiments aimed at some unresolved issues for understanding biomineralization. Full article

We reported the effect of the sonication output power (SOP), from 120, 180, to 240 W, on the crystal structure, morphology, and magnetic properties of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles synthesized by sonochemical process assisted with heat treatment. X-ray Diffraction analysis of the obtained powder showed the formation of Fe₃O₄ with low crystallinity degree, which increased with the increase in SOP, together in a crystalline phase identified as SrCO₃. The formation of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ started at 1073 K, and was completed at 1173 K. However, hexaferrite was obtained with the secondary phases α-Fe₂O₃ and SrFeO_2.5. At 1323 K, the secondary phases vanished, and a single phase SrFe₁₂O₁₉ was detected. Vibrating Sample Magnetometry analysis showed that the SrFeO_2.5 phase caused the formation of a hysteresis loop known as the Perminvar magnetic hysteresis loop. At 1323 K, the powder synthesized at 120 W showed a specific magnetization of 67.15 Am²/kg at 1.43 × 10⁶ A/m, and coercivity of 4.69 × 10⁴ A/m, with a spherical-like morphology and average particle size of 56.81 nm obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis. The increment of SOP promoted a high degree of crystallinity and decrease in crystal size. Additionally, it promoted the formation of secondary phases, induced agglomeration, and modified the morphology of the particles. Full article

We report the synthesis and characterization of a 3D Cu(II) coordination polymer, [Cu₃(L¹)₂(H₂O)₈]·8H₂O (1), with the use of a glycine-based tripodal pseudopeptidic ligand (H₃L¹ = N,N′,N″-tris(carboxymethyl)-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxamide or trimesoyl-tris-glycine). This compound presents the first example of a 12-fold interpenetrated ThSi₂ (ths) net. We attempt to justify the unique topology of 1 through a systematic comparison of the synthetic parameters in all reported structures with H₃L¹ and similar tripodal pseudopeptidic ligands. We additionally explore the catalytic potential of 1 in the A³ coupling reaction for the synthesis of propargylamines. The compound acts as a very good heterogeneous catalyst with yields up to 99% and loadings as low as 3 mol %. Full article

Paracetamol (PCM) has two well-documented polymorphic forms at room temperature; monoclinic Form I is more stable than the other orthorhombic Form II. Form II exhibits improved tabletting properties compared to Form I due to low shearing forces; however, difficulties in its manufacture have limited its use in industrial manufacture. Previous studies have found that the introduction of a co-former to form co-crystals would allow the PCM molecule to exist in a conformation similar to that of the orthorhombic form while being more stable at room temperature. Experimental charge density analysis of the paracetamol-4,4′-bipyridine (PCM-44BP) co-crystal system, and its constituent molecules, has been carried out to examine the forces that drive the formation and stabilisation of the co-crystal, while allowing PCM to maintain a packing motif similar to that found in Form II. It is hoped studies on this well-known compound will help apply the knowledge gained to other drug molecules that are less successful. The PCM molecules in the co-crystal were found to exhibit similar packing motifs to that found in Form I, however, intercalation of the 44BP molecule between the PCM layers resulted in a shallower angle between molecular planes, which could result in the required lateral shear. Topological analysis identified more weak interactions in the co-crystal compared to the individual molecules, thus allowing for greater stability as evidenced by the lattice energies. Weak interactions in the PCM-44BP co-crystal were found to range in strength from 4.08–84.33 kJ mol⁻¹, and this variety allowed the PCM-44BP planes to be held together, while a weak π–π interaction (15.14 kJ mol⁻¹) allowed lateral shear to occur, thus mimicking the planes found in Form II PCM and offering the possibility of improved tabletting properties. A comparison of integrated atomic charges between partitions of the PCM molecules in the single and co-crystal found that the hydroxyl and amide groups were involved in greater hydrogen bonding in the co-crystal, resulting in a charge redistribution across the molecule evidenced by a larger molecular dipole moment (µ = 12.34D). These findings, in addition to the co-crystal having the largest lattice energy, form a potential basis with which to predict that the co-crystal exhibits improved solubility and stability profiles. It is anticipated that these findings will contribute to improvements in the formulation and other physical properties of PCM and other pharmaceutical compounds. Full article

The morphology control of CH₃NH₃PbI₃ (MAPbI₃) thin-film is crucial for the high-efficiency perovskite solar cells, especially for their planar structure devices. Here, a feasible and effective post-treatment method is presented to improve the quality of MAPbI₃ films by using methylamine (CH₃NH₂) vapor. This post-treatment process is studied thoroughly, and the perovskite films with smooth surface, high preferential growth orientation and large crystals are obtained after 10 s treatment in MA atmosphere. It enhances the light absorption, and increases the recombination lifetime. Ultimately, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.3% for the FTO/TiO₂/MAPbI₃/spiro-OMeTAD/Ag planar architecture solar cells is achieved in combination with this post-treatment method. It represents a 40% improvement in PCE compared to the best control cell. Moreover, the whole post-treatment process is simple and cheap, which only requires some CH₃NH₂ solution in absolute ethanol. It is beneficial to control the reaction rate by changing the volume of the solution. Therefore, we are convinced that the post-treatment method is a valid and essential approach for the fabrication of high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. Full article

One trinuclear Co(II) coordination compound [{CoL¹(OAc)(CH₃COCH₃)}₂Co] (1) and one unprecedented mononuclear Ni(II) coordination compound [Ni(L²)₂] (2), constructed from a Salamo-type ligand H₂L¹ were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV-vis spectra, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The results show that the Co(II) atoms have no significant distortion in CoO₆ or CoO₄N₂ octahedrons in coordination compound 1. Interestingly, in coordination compound 2, the desired tri- or mono-nuclear Salamo-type Ni(II) coordination compound was not obtained, but an unprecedented Ni(II) coordination compound [Ni(L²)₂] was synthesized, the Ni1 atom having no significant distortion in the NiO₂N₂ planar quadrilateral geometry. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activities of coordination compound 1 and previously reported coordination compound [{CoL¹(OAc)(MeOH)}₂Co]·2MeOH (3) are discussed. Full article

Tetraarylethylene derivatives are emerging as an increasingly important family of supramolecular building blocks in both solution phase and the solid state. The utility of tetraarylethylenes stems from appealing structural features (rigidity and symmetry) and their propensity to exhibit aggregation induced emission (AIE). In an effort to investigate the luminescent sensing ability of heteroaromatic tetraarylethylenes, we previously prepared tetra(4-pyridyl)ethylene and characterized its solution phase AIE properties. We here report the successful incorporation of tetra(4-pyridyl)ethylene into three distinct salts and co-crystalline assemblies with three organic di-carboxylic acids (oxalic acid, malonic acid, and fumaric acid). Interactions between the tetra(pyridyl)ethylene and di-acid components were found to vary from conventional to charge-assisted hydrogen bonding according to the extent of proton transfer between the acid and pyridine groups. Notably, the formation of pyridinium-carboxylate adducts in the salts does not appear to be strongly correlated with acid pKa. Three distinct network topologies were observed, and all featured the bridging of two or three tetra(pyridyl)ethylene groups through di-acid linkers. Crystalline assemblies also retained the AIE activity of tetra(pyridyl)ethylene and were luminescent under UV light. As tetra(4-pyridyl)ethylene features four Lewis basic and potentially metal ligating pyridine rings in a relatively well-defined geometry, this compound represents an attractive building block for the design of additional crystalline organic and metal–organic functional materials. Full article

Samples with the composition Ce_0.9Gd_0.1Mn_xO_2−δ with x = 0.01, 0.02, and 0.05 Mn-addition were prepared by mixed oxide route from Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2−δ and MnO₂ and sintered at 1300 °C. The electronic conductivity was measured using a modified Hebb-Wagner technique, the electrical conductivity was investigated by impedance spectroscopy, and oxygen permeation was measured for the sample with x = 0.05. An increase of the electronic partial conductivity with increasing Mn addition was observed, which can be attributed to an additional Mn 3d-related state between the top of the valence band and the bottom of the Ce 4f band. The grain boundary conductivity was found to be suppressed for low Mn contents, but enhanced for the sample with x = 0.05. Full article

Calcium yttrium aluminate (CaYAl₃O₇) crystal was grown and characterized in detail for high temperature piezoelectric sensors for the first time. The thermal properties of the CaYAl₃O₇ (CYAM) crystal were investigated systematically. In particular, the CYAM crystal exhibits considerably high resistivity along X- and Z- direction in the order of 6.96 × 10⁷ Ω·cm and 2.86 × 10⁸ Ω·cm at 600 °C, respectively. The temperature dependence of the electromechanical properties of CYAM crystal were investigated over the temperature range of 25–500 °C. The high thermal stability of piezoelectric properties together with its high electrical resistivity, makes CaYAl₃O₇ crystal a promising candidate for high temperature piezoelectric applications. Full article

A lab-scale bubble-column scrubber is used to capture CO₂ gas and produce ammonia bicarbonate (ABC) using aqueous ammonia as an absorbent under a constant pH and temperature. The CO₂ concentration is adjusted by mixing N₂ and CO₂ in the range of 15–60 vol % at 55 °C. The process variables are the pH of the solution, temperature, gas-flow rate and the concentration of gas. The effects of the process variables on the removal efficiency (E), absorption rate (R_A) and overall mass-transfer coefficient (K_Ga) were explored. A multiple-tube mass balance model was used to determine R_A and K_Ga, in which R_A and K_Ga were in the range of 2.14 × 10⁻⁴–1.09 × 10⁻³ mol/(s·L) and 0.0136–0.5669 1/s, respectively. Results found that, R_A showed an obvious increase with the increase in pH, inlet gas concentration and gas temperature, while K_Ga decreased with an increase in inlet gas concentration. Using linear regression, an empirical expression for K_Ga/E was obtained. On the other hand, ammonia bicarbonate crystals could be produced at a pH of 9.5 when the gas concentration was higher than 30% and γ (=F_g/F_A, the gas-liquid molar flow rate ratio) ≥ 1.5. Full article

We present a study of the influence of disorder on the Mott metal-insulator transition for the organic charge-transfer salt $\kappa$ -(BEDT-TTF) ${}_2$ Cu[N(CN) ${}_2$ ]Cl. To this end, disorder was introduced into the system in a controlled way by exposing the single crystals to X-ray irradiation. The crystals were then fine-tuned across the Mott transition by the application of continuously controllable He-gas pressure at low temperatures. Measurements of the thermal expansion and resistance show that the first-order character of the Mott transition prevails for low irradiation doses achieved by irradiation times up to 100 h. For these crystals with a moderate degree of disorder, we find a first-order transition line which ends in a second-order critical endpoint, akin to the pristine crystals. Compared to the latter, however, we observe a significant reduction of both, the critical pressure $p_c$ and the critical temperature $T_c$ . This result is consistent with the theoretically-predicted formation of a soft Coulomb gap in the presence of strong correlations and small disorder. Furthermore, we demonstrate, similar to the observation for the pristine sample, that the Mott transition after 50 h of irradiation is accompanied by sizable lattice effects, the critical behavior of which can be well described by mean-field theory. Our results demonstrate that the character of the Mott transition remains essentially unchanged at a low disorder level. However, after an irradiation time of 150 h, no clear signatures of a discontinuous metal-insulator transition could be revealed anymore. These results suggest that, above a certain disorder level, the metal-insulator transition becomes a smeared first-order transition with some residual hysteresis. Full article

A novel three-dimensional two-fold interpenetrated bi-porous metal-organic framework IPM-325 (IPM: IISER Pune Materials) having pcu topology was synthesized at room temperature. Single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) study revealed that the compound crystallizes in monoclinic lattice with molecular formula {[Zn(L)₂ (SiF₆)] (CH₂Cl₂) xG}_n where G = Guests). All metal centers were found to have octahedral geometry. From single crystal analysis it can be inferred that SiF₆²⁻ anion play a vital role in extending the dimensionality of the framework by bridging between two metal centers. Interestingly, IPM-325 exhibited two-step structural transformation maintaining the crystallinity of the framework as characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Full article

We present a novel horizontal ribbon growth (HRG) process and a theoretical analysis of this method. Assuming that the existence of the meniscus is defined by diffuse growth, we determine analytically the thickness and height of the meniscus and an explicit expression for the performance of meniscus under different conditions. We then calculate the thermal profile in melt part, as well as the conditions under which the undercooling is sufficient around the solidification point. We find that diffuse growth is more sensitive to small initial thickness, and find the minimum length of the melt part to obtain undercooling. Finally, we calculate the change rule of solidification position by a variational approach, as well as the stability of the process under different conditions. We also give an expression to the instability of past HRG methods. Full article

Two dimensional (2D) materials have gained significant attention since the discovery of graphene in 2004. Layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have become the focus of 2D materials in recent years due to their wide range of chemical compositions and a variety of properties. These TMDs layers can be artificially integrated with other layered materials into a monolayer (lateral) or a multilayer stack (vertical) heterostructures. The resulting heterostructures provide new properties and applications beyond their component 2D atomic crystals and many exciting experimental results have been reported during the past few years. In this review, we present the various synthesis methods (mechanical exfoliation, physical vapor transport, chemical vapor deposition, and molecular beam epitaxy method) on van der Waals heterostructures based on different TMDs as well as an outlook for future research. Full article

The presence of highly electronegative atoms in Li-ion batteries anticipates the formation of σ-hole regions that may strongly affect the ionic conductivity. The σ-hole consists of a region of positive electrostatic potential extending in the direction of the covalent bond between atoms of groups IV–VII due to anisotropic charge distribution. Graphite electrodes in Li-ion batteries that become halogenated due to the electrolyte, as well as some solid electrolyte materials, can exhibit these σ-holes. Since Li-ions should be able to drift in any part of the battery, the fact that they can be attracted and eventually absorbed by regions of strong negative potentials produced by high-electronegativity counterions becomes detrimental to ionic conductivity. Therefore, the presence of positive well-defined regions, repulsive to the Li-ions, might act as lubricant for Li-ions drifting through electrolytes, thus improving the Li-ion conductivity. In addition, the σ-holes might also have a strong effect on the formation of the passivating layer, known as the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) at electrode surfaces, which is of paramount importance for the performance of rechargeable batteries. Here we investigate the existence of σ-holes on surfaces of graphite anodes and of a few solid electrolytes by examining the electrostatic potentials calculated using density functional theory. Full article

The effect of abrasive shape on the three-body abrasion behaviors of monocrystalline silicon was investigated via molecular dynamics. The axial ratio of abrasive particle varied from 1.00 to 0.40 to mimic abrasive shape. It has been observed that the particle’s movement became sliding instead of rolling when the axial ratio was smaller than a critical value 0.46. In the abrasion process, the friction force and normal force showed an approximately sinusoid-like fluctuation for the rolling ellipsoidal particles, while the front cutting of particle caused that friction force increased and became larger than normal force for sliding particles. The phase transformation process was tracked under different particle’ movement patterns. The Si-II and Bct5 phase producing in loading process can partially transform to Si-III/Si-XII phase, and backtrack to original crystal silicon under pressure release, which also occurred in the abrasion process. The secondary phase transformation showed difference for particles’ rolling and sliding movements after three-body abrasion. The rolling of particle induced the periodical and inhomogeneous deformation of substrates, while the sliding benefited producing high-quality surface in chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. This study aimed to construct a more precise model to understand the wear mechanism benefits evaluating the micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) wear and CMP process of crystal materials. Full article

The interaction between a dislocation and impurities has been investigated by measurements of yield stress and proof stress, micro-hardness tests, direct observations of dislocation, internal friction measurements, or stress relaxation tests so far. A large number of investigations has been carried out by the separation of the flow stress into effective and internal stresses on the basis of the temperature dependence of yield stress, the strain rate dependence of flow stress, and stress relaxation. Nevertheless, it is difficult to investigate the interaction between a dislocation and obstacles during plastic deformation by the mentioned methods. As for the original method which combines strain-rate cycling tests with the Blaha effect measurement, the original method is different from above-mentioned ones and would be possible to clear it up. The strain-rate cycling test during the Blaha effect measurement has successively provided the information on the dislocation motion breaking away from the strain fields around dopant ions with the help of thermal activation, and seems to separate the contributions arising from the interaction between dislocation and the point defects and those from dislocations themselves during plastic deformation of ionic crystals. Such information on dislocation motion in bulk material cannot be obtained by the widely known methods so far. Furthermore, the various deformation characteristics derived from the original method are sensitive to a change in the state of dopant ions in a specimen by heat treatment, e.g., the Gibbs free energy (G₀) for overcoming of the strain field around the dopant by a dislocation at absolute zero becomes small for the annealed KCl:Sr²⁺ single crystal (G₀ = 0.26 eV) in comparison with that for the quenched one (G₀ = 0.39 eV). Full article

The linker 2,5-di(4-pyridyl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole (Dptztz), whose synthesis and structure is described here, was utilized together with benzene-1,3-dicarboxylate (isophthalate, 1,3-BDC²⁻) for the preparation of the two-dimensional coordination network [Zn(1,3-BDC)Dptztz]·DMF (DMF = dimethylformamide) via a solvothermal reaction. Compound [Zn(1,3-BDC)Dptztz]·DMF belongs to the class of coordination polymers with interdigitated structure (CIDs). The incorporated DMF solvent molecules can be removed through solvent exchange and evacuation such that the supramolecular 3D packing of the 2D networks retains porosity for CO₂ adsorption in activated [Zn(1,3-BDC)Dptztz]. The first sorption study of a tztz-functionalized porous metal-organic framework material yields a BET surface of 417 m²/g calculated from the CO₂ adsorption data. The heat of adsorption for CO₂ exhibits a relative maximum with 27.7 kJ/mol at an adsorbed CO₂ amount of about 4 cm³/g STP, which is interpreted as a gate-opening effect. Full article

Presbyopia is an age-related disorder where the lens of the eye hardens so that focusing on near objects becomes increasingly difficult. This complaint affects everyone over the age of 50. It is becoming progressively more relevant, as the average age of the global population continues to rise. Bifocal or varifocal spectacles are currently the best solution for those that require near and far vision correction. However, many people prefer not to wear spectacles and while multifocal contact lenses are available, they are not widely prescribed and can require significant adaptation by wearers. One possible solution is to use liquid crystal contact lenses that can change focal power by applying a small electric field across the device. However, the design of these contact lenses must be carefully considered as they must be comfortable for the user to wear and able to provide the required change in focal power (usually about +2D). Progress towards different lens designs, which includes lens geometry, liquid crystal choices and suitable alignment modes, are reviewed. Furthermore, we also discuss suitable electrode materials, possible power sources and suggest some methods for switching the lenses between near and far vision correction. Full article

The optical properties of organic materials are very sensitive to subtle structural modification, and a proper understanding of the structure-property relationship is essential to improve the performance of organic electronic devices. The phase transitions of the η-CuPc to the α-CuPc, then to the β-CuPc were investigated using In situ X-ray diffraction and the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The five stages in the phase-transition process from low to high-temperature were observed, which consisted of (1) the η-CuPc; (2) a mixture of the η- and α-CuPc; (3) a mixture of the η-, α- and β-CuPc; (4) a mixture of the α- and β-CuPc; and (5) the β-CuPc. The vibrational and optical properties at different phase-transition stages were correlated to molecular packing motif and molecule overlap type through systematic analyses of the Fourier–transform infrared, Raman and UV-VIS spectra. Moreover, the mechanism for the morphology evolution was also discussed in detail. Full article

The governing equation of screw dislocations in heterostructures is constructed using image method. The interface type ( $-1\le \gamma \le 1$ ) and distance between dislocation and interface h are considered in the new equation. The Peierls–Nabarro equations for screw dislocations in bulk and semi-infinite materials can be recovered when $\gamma =0$ and $\gamma =-1$ . The soft ( $\gamma <0$ ) and hard ( $\gamma >0$ ) interfaces can enhance and reduce the Peierls stress of screw dislocations near the interface, respectively. The interface effects on dislocations decrease with the increasing of distance h. The Al/TiC heterostructure is investigated as a model interface to study the unstable stacking fault energy and dislocation properties of the interface. The mismatch of lattice constants and shear modulus at the interface results in changes of the unstable stacking fault energy. Then, the changes of the unstable stacking fault energy also have an important effect on dislocation properties, comparing with $\gamma$ and h. Full article

Light extraction efficiency (LEE) of GaN-based nanorod blue light-emitting diode (LED) structures is investigated using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. When the LEE is calculated for different source positions inside the nanorod, the LEE is found to depend strongly on the source positions and the polarization directions for each source position, implying that the LEE of nanorod LED structures should be evaluated by averaging over source positions and polarization directions for determining the LEE accurately. The averaged LEE of nanorod LED structures is simulated as the radius, the p-GaN thickness, and the n-GaN thickness is varied, and the optimum structural parameters can be obtained. In addition, the far-field pattern is simulated when considering the averaging effects, and the circularly symmetric and uniform emission distribution is obtained. Full article

Te precipitates in CdZnTe (CZT) crystals grown by the traveling heater method (THM) are investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results show that in THM-grown CZT crystals, Te precipitates are less than 10 nm in size—much smaller than those in Bridgman-grown CZT. They have hexagonal structure and form a coherent interface with zinc blend structure CZT matrix in the orientation relationship ${\left[\overline{1}12\right]}_{\mathrm{M}}//{\left[0001\right]}_{\mathrm{P}}$ and ${\left(1\overline{1}1\right)}_{\mathrm{M}}//{\left(\overline{1}100\right)}_{\mathrm{P}}$ . A ledge growth interface with the preferred orientation along the ${\left[1\overline{1}1\right]}_{\mathrm{M}}$ and ${\left[110\right]}_{\mathrm{M}}$ was found near Te precipitates. The growth and nucleation mechanism of Te precipitates are also discussed. Full article

Pioneering explorations of the two-dimensional (2D) inorganic layered crystals (ILCs) in electronics have boosted low-dimensional materials research beyond the prototypical but semi-metallic graphene. Thanks to species variety and compositional richness, ILCs are further activated as hosting matrices to reach intrinsic magnetism due to their semiconductive natures. Herein, we briefly review the latest progresses of manipulation strategies that introduce magnetism into the nonmagnetic 2D and quasi-2D ILCs from the first-principles computational perspectives. The matrices are concerned within naturally occurring species such as MoS₂, MoSe₂, WS₂, BN, and synthetic monolayers such as ZnO and g-C₂N. Greater attention is spent on nondestructive routes through magnetic dopant adsorption; defect engineering; and a combination of doping-absorbing methods. Along with structural stability and electric uniqueness from hosts, tailored magnetic properties are successfully introduced to low-dimensional ILCs. Different from the three-dimensional (3D) bulk or zero-dimensional (0D) cluster cases, origins of magnetism in the 2D space move past most conventional physical models. Besides magnetic interactions, geometric symmetry contributes a non-negligible impact on the magnetic properties of ILCs, and surprisingly leads to broken symmetry for magnetism. At the end of the review, we also propose possible combination routes to create 2D ILC magnetic semiconductors, tentative theoretical models based on topology for mechanical interpretations, and next-step first-principles research within the domain. Full article

Mesostructure engineering is a potential avenue towards the property control of coordination polymers in addition to the traditional structure design on an atomic/molecular scale. Mesoframes, as a class of mesostructures, have short diffusion pathways for guest species and thus can be an ideal platform for fast storage of guest ions. We report a synthesis of Prussian Blue analogue mesoframes by top-down etching of cubic crystals. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the surfaces of the cubic crystals were selectively removed by HCl, leaving the corners, edges, and the cores connected together. The mesoframes were used as a host for the reversible insertion of sodium ions with the help of electrochemistry. The electrochemical intercalation/de-intercalation of Na⁺ ions in the mesoframes was highly reversible even at a high rate (166.7 C), suggesting that the mesoframes could be a promising cathode material for aqueous sodium ion batteries with excellent rate performance and cycling stability. Full article