Nanosheets with safety, dispersibility, and nanosized effects have been widely studied for their unique properties. This review article introduces the advantages and the uniqueness of the synthesis method of nanosheets at interfaces. Reconstructing the past literature reveals the perspectives of major challenges and opportunities associated with scalable nanosheet synthesis methods for industrial production.

Abstract

Nanostructured materials with high aspect ratios have been widely studied for their unique properties. In particular, nanosheets have safety, dispersibility, and nanosized effects, and nanosheets with exceptionally small thicknesses exhibit unique properties. For non-exfoliable materials, the bottom-up nanosheet growth using various interfaces as templates have been investigated. This review article presents the synthesis of nanosheets at the interfaces and layered structure; it explains the features of each interface type, its advantages, and its uniqueness. The interfaces work as templates for nanosheet synthesis. We can easily use the liquid-liquid and gas-liquid interfaces as the templates; however, the thickness of nanosheets usually becomes thick because it allows materials to grow in thickness. The solid-gas and solid-liquid interfaces can prevent nanosheets from growing in thickness. However, the removal of template solids is required after the synthesis. The layered structures of various materials provide two-dimensional reaction fields between the layers. These methods have high versatility, and the nanosheets synthesized by these methods are thin. Finally, this review examines the key challenges and opportunities associated with scalable nanosheet synthesis methods for industrial production.

A green solvent-free aerobic conversion of methyl oleate, represented by an oily droplet, to biobased aldehydes, represented by octanal and nonanal molecules by mechanochemically synthesized bimetallic nanoalloys of AgAu supported on silica.

Abstract

The performance of mechanochemically synthesized supported bimetallic AgAu nanoalloy catalysts was evaluated in the oxidative cleavage of methyl oleate, a commonly available unsaturated bio-derived raw material. An extensive screening of supports (SiO₂, C, ZrO₂, Al₂O₃), metallic ratios (Ag : Au), reaction times, temperatures, and use of solvents was carried out. The performance was optimized towards productivity and selectivity for the primary cleavage products (aldehydes and oxoesters). The optimal conditions were achieved in the absence of solvent, using Ag₈Au₉₂/SiO₂ as catalyst, at 80 °C, reaction time of 1 h, substrate to catalyst=555 and 10 bar of molecular oxygen. A strong support effect was observed: the selectivity to aldehydes was best with silica as support, and to esters was best using zirconia. This shows not only that mechanochemical preparation of bimetallic catalysts is a powerful tool to generate useful catalyst compositions, but also that a safe, green, solventless synthesis of bio-derived products can be achieved by aerobic oxidative cleavage.

The cover picture shows the three different bonding modes (mono-, bi- and tridentate) of the modular ligand towards palladium(II) or platinum(II), illustrated with Winston who kindly served as model. The cat has three binding sites (mouth, front paws and hind paws = P, N and pyridine) to bind the metal dichloride fragment. When all three are used in a tridentate bonding mode, one chlorido ligand is cleaved off. Cover design by Dr. Christoph Selg. More information can be found in the Research Article by Evamarie Hey-Hawkins and co-workers.

The cover feature image shows the industrial production of nanosheets. First, the ingredients are poured into the continuously stirred tank reactor. The reacted solution is separated at the next tank. The suspension of nanosheets is centrifuged, and the obtained nanosheets are packed into vessels as concentrated suspensions. The practical use of nanosheets requires the development of a facile and versatile synthesis method controlling the size of nanosheets at a low cost to be scaled up. More information can be found in the Review by Yoshiaki Uchida and co-workers.

Unlocking the potential of phosphino hydrazones: Harnessing the power of hydrazone condensation to synthesise phosphino hydrazone ligands from 3-(diphenylphosphino)propanal and commercially available aryl hydrazines and studying their palladium complexes for Cu-free Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction. Read more about the story behind the cover in the Cover Profile and about the research itself (DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300163).

Abstract

Invited for this month's cover is the group of Evamarie Hey-Hawkins at Leipzig University. The cover picture shows the three different bonding modes (mono-, bi- and tridentate) of the modular ligand towards palladium(II) or platinum(II), illustrated with Winston who kindly served as the model. The cat has three binding sites (mouth, front paws and hind paws = P, N and pyridine) to bind the metal dichloride fragment. When all three are used in a tridentate bonding mode, one chlorido ligand is cleaved off. Cover design by Dr. Christoph Selg. More information can be found in the Research Article by Evamarie Hey-Hawkins and co-workers.

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) synthesized through glucose conversion requires Lewis acid (L) site for isomerization and Brønsted acid (B) site for dehydration. The objective of this work is to investigate the influence of the metal type of Al-SBA-15-supported phosphates of Cr, Zr, Nb, Sr, and Sn on glucose conversion to 5-HMF in a NaCl-H2O/n-butanol biphasic solvent system. The structural and acid property of all supported metal phosphate samples were fully verified by several spectroscopic methods. Among those catalysts, CrPO/Al-SBA-15 provided the best performance with the highest glucose conversion and 5-HMF yield, corresponding to the highest total acidity of 0.65 mmol/g and optimal L/B ratio of 1.88. For CrPO/Al-SBA-15, another critical parameter is the phosphate-to-chromium ratio. Moreover, DFT simulation of glucose conversion to 5-HMF on the surface of the optimized chromium phosphate structure reveals three steps of fructose dehydration on the Brønsted acid site. Finally, the optimum reaction condition, reusability, and leaching test of the best catalyst were determined. CrPO/Al-SBA-15 is a promising catalyst for glucose conversion to high-value-added chemicals in future biorefinery production.

Owing to the abundance of availability, low cost, and environmental-friendliness, biomass waste could serve as a prospective renewable source for value-added chemicals. Nevertheless, biomass conversion into chemicals is quite challenging due to the heterogeneous nature of biomass waste. Biomass-derived chemicals are appealing sustainable solutions that can reduce the dependency on existing petroleum-based production. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-based catalysts and their composite materials have attracted considerable amounts of interest in biomass conversion applications recently because of their interesting physical and chemical characteristics. Due to their tunability, the catalytic activity and selectivity of MOF-based catalyst/composite materials can be tailored by functionalizing them with a variety of functional groups to enhance biomass conversion efficiency. This review focuses on the catalytic transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into value-added chemicals by employing MOF-based catalyst/composite materials. The main focus is given to the production of the platform chemicals HMF and Furfural from the corresponding (hemi)cellulosic biomass, due to their versatility as intermediates for the production of various biobased chemicals and fuels. The effects of different experimental parameters on the conversion of biomass by MOF-based catalysts are also included. Finally, current challenges and perspectives of biomass conversion into chemicals by MOF-based catalysts are highlighted.

The performance prerequisites for nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals encompass a substantial second-harmonic generation (SHG), a considerable laser induced damage threshold, and a moderate degree of birefringence. Nevertheless, the presence of particular anions may result in deficiencies within certain properties. The utilization of mixed anionic groups has emerged as an effective strategy to achieve a balance among numerous performance parameters of NLO crystals, particularly in terms of SHG responses and bandgaps. Compared with other heteroanionic compounds, adduct-type compounds feature more concise structures with specific properties. Herein, we aim to provide an overview of the recent advancements in adduct-type NLO crystals, focusing on their structures and properties. Furthermore, we analyze the coordination chemistry and disadvantages involved in adducts, and discuss the current synthesis methods as well as future directions for further exploration.

A wide variety of regioselectively substituted carbazole derivatives can be synthesized by the gold-catalyzed cyclization of alkynols bearing an indol-3-yl and an additional group at the homopropargylic positions. The regioselectivity of the process can be controlled by both the oxidation state of the gold catalyst and the electronic nature of the substituents of the alkynol moiety. The 1,2-alkyl migration in the spiroindoleninium intermediate, generated after indole attack to the activated alkyne, is favored with gold(I) complexes and for electron-rich aromatic substituents at the homopropargylic position, whereas the 1,2-alkenyl shift is preferred when using gold(III) salts and for alkyl or non-electron-rich aromatic groups.

This work summarizes the advances of photo-responsive nanozyme, of which the catalytic activity can be induced or enhanced using different energy electromagnetic waves (infrared, visible light, ultraviolet and X-rays). It offers light-controlled functions and applications that cannot be achieved by pristine nanozyme.

Abstract

Since the discovery that Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle has intrinsic natural peroxidase-like activity by Yan et al in 2007, mimicking native enzymes via nano-engineering (named as nanozyme) pays a new avenue to bypass the fragility and recyclability of natural enzymes and thus expedites the biocatalysis in multidisciplinary applications. In addition, the high programmability and structural stability attributes of nanozyme afford the ease of coupling with electromagnetic waves of different energies, providing great opportunities to construct photo-responsive nanozyme under user-defined electromagnetic waves, which is known as photo-nanozyme. In this concept, we aim to providing a summary of how electromagnetic waves with varying wavelengths can serve as external stimuli to induce or enhance the biocatalytic performance of photo-nanozymes, thereby offering fascinating functions that cannot be achieved by pristine nanozyme.