{"title":"Diphane: A Cage-like Compound Featuring Two Cavities","authors":"Jun Shen, Shaodong Zhang","doi":"10.1039/d5cc02139a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5cc02139a","url":null,"abstract":"Diphane refers to cage-like compounds featuring two discrete cavities, which are capable of selectively encapsulating and/or discriminating multiple guest molecules. This unique dual-cavity design could enable versatile applications in molecular recognition, separation, multiphase catalysis, and adsorption. In this review, we present a timely overview of synthetic strategies for diphanes with diverse shapes and functions. We emphasize two main synthetic approaches: covalent (reversible and irreversible) and coordination-driven (metal-organic) strategies. By highlighting recent advances in the rational design and functional applications of diphanes, this review aims to inspire further exploration of double- and multiple-chambered molecular cages—particularly in developing new synthetic strategies and expanding their structural diversity and functions.","PeriodicalId":67,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Communications","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144710904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Morphology optimization of CdS-Pt photocatalyst by photoetching for hydrogen production with high quantum efficiency","authors":"Haruki Nagakawa, Tetsu Tatsuma","doi":"10.1039/d5cc04077a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5cc04077a","url":null,"abstract":"Morphology of CdS-Pt photocatalyst was optimized in terms of photocatalytic activity and stability through photoetching of CdS. This achieved high external quantum efficiency for hydrogen production in an alkaline solution containing a sacrificial electron donor.","PeriodicalId":67,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Communications","volume":"105 1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144710884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multidimensional Engineering of ZIF-8-Based Electrocatalysts for Carbon Dioxide Reduction: A Mini Review","authors":"Jianxia Gu, Jiantao Huang, Zhanbin Jin, Tingting Wei","doi":"10.1039/d5cc03189c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5cc03189c","url":null,"abstract":"Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) represents a pivotal technology for mitigating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality, by utilizing renewable energy to transform CO2 into valuable chemical feedstocks. However, the inherent stability of CO2 molecules and the competing hydrogen evolution reactions necessitate the development of efficient, cost-effective catalysts. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), especially zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), are increasingly recognized as attractive materials for catalytic applications, owing to their tunable structures, high porosity, and well-defined active sites. Despite such progress, challenges such as poor electrical conductivity and limited selectivity hinder their practical application. This review systematically examines recent advancements in enhancing ZIF-8-based electrocatalysts for CO2RR through multidimensional structural engineering strategies. Key approaches include lattice engineering for optimizing morphology and size, modulating the coordination microenvironment via chemical doping, constructing heterogeneous interface to design composite catalyst, and topological transformation to derive high-performance materials. By correlating structural modifications with catalytic performance, this work elucidates design principles for activity. Additionally, this work also discusses future development direction for ZIF-8-based catalysts according to the current research results, aiming to provide guidance for the rational design of next-generation MOF-based catalysts for sustainable CO2 conversion and energy storage.","PeriodicalId":67,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Communications","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tao Wang, Yiyu Wang, Siyuan Gao, Juntian Fan, Sheng Dai
{"title":"Titanium Surface Nitriding by Sodium Amide in Molten Salts","authors":"Tao Wang, Yiyu Wang, Siyuan Gao, Juntian Fan, Sheng Dai","doi":"10.1039/d5cc03614c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5cc03614c","url":null,"abstract":"A crystalline titanium nitride (TiN) layer on titanium foil is achieved using sodium amide (NaNH₂) as a nitrogen source in LiCl-KCl molten salts. Nanoindentation testing revealed exceptional mechanical properties, with the nitrided surface achieving a hardness of approximately 20.6 GPa, representing more than a four-fold increase compared to the untreated titanium substrate.","PeriodicalId":67,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Communications","volume":"53 10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Probing Polarity Structure-Function Relationships in Amine-Water Mixtures","authors":"Elizabeth Dach, Elone Pisacane, Devon Campbell, Lindsay Soh, Ngai Yin Yip","doi":"10.1039/d5cc03314d","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5cc03314d","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates the relationships between chemical structure, polarity, and miscibility in solvent-water systems to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the thermoresponsive hydrophilicity of amines. By integrating complementary analyses of Kamlet-Taft parameters and relative permittivity, we elucidate that hydrogen bonding and nanoscale ordering, i.e., molecular-level and mean-field, respectively, underlie amine-water interactions, which, in turn, influence the thermomorphic hydrophilicity function.","PeriodicalId":67,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Communications","volume":"707 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144710578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Li Li, Guang Yang, Chengzhi Xiao, Litao Zhao, Jianhua Xu, Wenli Wang, Guoliang Gao, Yi Cui
{"title":"Oxygen vacancy-rich defective Co3O4-RuO2 heterostructure catalysts for efficient acidic oxygen evolution reaction","authors":"Li Li, Guang Yang, Chengzhi Xiao, Litao Zhao, Jianhua Xu, Wenli Wang, Guoliang Gao, Yi Cui","doi":"10.1039/d5cc02731d","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5cc02731d","url":null,"abstract":"Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis offers a sustainable approach to producing clean hydrogen fuel. Nonetheless, the advancement of electrocatalysts for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that exhibit both high performance and cost-effectiveness remains a significant challenge, thereby hindering their widespread commercial application. In this study, we have developed a Co3O4-RuO2 heterojunction electrocatalyst. Spectroscopic characterization and electrochemical analyses revealed that the presence of oxygen vacancies at the heterointerface, along with the electronic coupling between RuO2 and Co3O4, significantly enhanced the OER performance of the catalyst. Notably, the Co3O4-RuO2 composite necessitates a relatively low overpotential of 218 mV to attain a current density of 10 mA cm−2, indicating promising potential for practical applications.","PeriodicalId":67,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Communications","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}