CrystEngCommPub Date : 2025-01-20DOI: 10.1039/D4CE01214C
Akio Mishima, Runa Mori, Ken Kanazashi, Tomohiko Hamaguchi, Ryuta Ishikawa and Satoshi Kawata
{"title":"Structural analysis and water adsorption properties of chloranilate anion–terpyridine metal complexes forming hydrogen-bonded frameworks†","authors":"Akio Mishima, Runa Mori, Ken Kanazashi, Tomohiko Hamaguchi, Ryuta Ishikawa and Satoshi Kawata","doi":"10.1039/D4CE01214C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CE01214C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Emerging microporous hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are expected to overcome water shortages owing to their potential in harvesting and releasing water at low energies. To investigate their water adsorption properties, two distinct types of HOFs are synthesized. The frameworks are composed of chloranilic acid (H<small><sub>2</sub></small>CA), terpy complexes, and crystal water. The complexes are denoted as [M(terpy)<small><sub>2</sub></small>](H<small><sub>2</sub></small>CA)<small><sub>0.5</sub></small>(HCA)(CA)<small><sub>0.5</sub></small>·H<small><sub>2</sub></small>O (<strong>M–A</strong>) and [M(terpy)<small><sub>2</sub></small>](CA)·6H<small><sub>2</sub></small>O (<strong>M–B</strong>), where M represents Fe<small><sup>2+</sup></small>, Co<small><sup>2+</sup></small>, or Ni<small><sup>2+</sup></small>. Structural characterization results reveal that <strong>M–A</strong> contains H<small><sub>2</sub></small>CA, chloranilate monoanion (HCA<small><sup>−</sup></small>), and chloranilate dianion (CA<small><sup>2−</sup></small>). <strong>M–A</strong> complexes comprise one-dimensional chains of H<small><sub>2</sub></small>CA–CA<small><sup>2−</sup></small> and HCA<small><sup>−</sup></small>–water, forming a three-dimensional framework <em>via</em> hydrogen bonding with [M(terpy)<small><sub>2</sub></small>]<small><sup>2+</sup></small>. <strong>M–B</strong> complexes contain [M(terpy)<small><sub>2</sub></small>]<small><sup>2+</sup></small>, CA<small><sup>2−</sup></small>, and six water molecules. The CA<small><sup>2−</sup></small> and water molecules form a two-dimensional layered arrangement <em>via</em> hydrogen bonding, and the water molecules form tetramers within the layers. N<small><sub>2</sub></small> adsorption measurements indicate that both the <strong>M–A</strong> and <strong>M–B</strong> complexes are non-porous. In water adsorption–desorption experiments, <strong>M–A</strong> adsorbs one water molecule per unit with minimal structural changes, whereas <strong>M–B</strong> adsorbs six water molecules per unit and undergoes a multi-step isothermal adsorption process, indicating significant structural changes. Furthermore, the adsorption properties were observed to vary with the central metal ion. The differing adsorption behaviors of <strong>M–B</strong> may be attributed to the hydrogen bonding distances within the crystalline water tetramers forming the hydrogen bonded network. The HOFs explored in this study may be utilized for selectively adsorbing water molecules in low-humidity environments, such as arid regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":70,"journal":{"name":"CrystEngComm","volume":" 7","pages":" 931-938"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ce/d4ce01214c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143379624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CrystEngCommPub Date : 2025-01-20DOI: 10.1039/D4CE01213E
Arvin Sain Tanwar and Franck Meyer
{"title":"Harnessing non-covalent interactions in modified thiophenes: structural design and applications in materials and biological sciences","authors":"Arvin Sain Tanwar and Franck Meyer","doi":"10.1039/D4CE01213E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CE01213E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Thiophene, a ubiquitous and versatile heterocyclic compound, serves as a cornerstone for modern material sciences due to its distinctive electronic properties and ability to engage in non-covalent interactions, such as π⋯π stacking and chalcogen bonding. These interactions can be further enhanced by introducing hydrogen and halogen bond donor groups, rendering functionalized thiophenes highly adaptable and invaluable across a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines. This highlight examines the pivotal role of thiophene-based compounds in advancing organic electronic materials (semiconductors, nonlinear optics, solar cells), sensors, medicinal chemistry (drug design), solid-state reactions (polymerization, mechanochemistry), crystal engineering and the formation of supramolecular helices. The properties and applications of these compounds are predominantly explored through crystallographic data, complemented by microscopy and density functional theory (DFT) studies. From designing advanced functional materials to pioneering new approaches in health and technology, thiophene derivatives exemplify the power of non-covalent interactions in driving innovation.</p>","PeriodicalId":70,"journal":{"name":"CrystEngComm","volume":" 6","pages":" 736-748"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143107286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microscopic kinetic model of gas hydrate and the effect of brine: a case study of natural gas hydrate from the seabed off the Tokachi coast","authors":"Satoshi Takeya, Kiyofumi Suzuki, Akihiro Hachikubo, Hirotoshi Sakagami, Hirotsugu Minami, Satoshi Yamashita, Keiichi Hirano, Kazuyuki Hyodo, Masahide Kawamoto and Akio Yoneyama","doi":"10.1039/D4CE00999A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CE00999A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Crystallization and dissociation are among the most prominent phenomena in condensed matter science; however, their microscopic understanding, such as with impurities, remains fragmentary. In this study, an experimental approach was used to investigate the microscopic mechanisms of crystallization and dissociation using structure I (sI) natural gas hydrates sampled from the seabed off the coast of Tokachi, Japan. Detailed information on the structural signature was obtained using multiscale imaging methods, including two synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (CT) methods, for samples with a hydrate mass fraction of 65 wt% and a salinity of 0.1 wt% in an icy sample. It was revealed that the crystallization step was driven by CH<small><sub>4</sub></small> gas bubbles rising in the subsurface and that the pseudo-spherical structure, which was subsequently converted to gas hydrate, was retained. After cryopreservation of the sample, the dissociation front at the time of recovery was preserved by self-preservation; however, hydrate dissociation proceeded from the inner grain boundary, even at subzero temperatures. These results clearly indicate that the formation and dissociation processes of gas hydrates are affected by the salinity of seawater. Quantitative observations of natural gas hydrate crystals over time contribute to our understanding of the crystallization and decomposition mechanisms under more complex conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":70,"journal":{"name":"CrystEngComm","volume":" 5","pages":" 695-702"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143107370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CrystEngCommPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.1039/D4CE01165A
Yanpei An, Yingying Wang, Yuanyuan Min, Xiaoyi Guo, Yanyun Ma, Xian-Sen Tao, Xianhong Li and Yiqun Zheng
{"title":"A comparative study of edge-selective and face-specific growth of PdAg alloys on au nanoplates and their applications for the ethanol oxidation reaction†","authors":"Yanpei An, Yingying Wang, Yuanyuan Min, Xiaoyi Guo, Yanyun Ma, Xian-Sen Tao, Xianhong Li and Yiqun Zheng","doi":"10.1039/D4CE01165A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CE01165A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >We present the synthesis of two-dimensional Au–PdAg hybrid electrocatalysts with two distinct morphologies through site-specific deposition in seeded growth. The co-reduction of Pd and Ag precursors in the presence of plate-like Au seeds, using CTAC and CTAB as capping agents, led to edge- and face-specific deposition. This approach successfully and selectively engineered the interface between Au and PdAg phases along the edge region and upper/bottom faces, respectively. Our results demonstrate that the Au–PdAg products exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and long-term durability for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media compared to commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts. DFT simulations further validated the advantages of constructing Au–PdAg interfaces over alloyed counterparts in EOR electrocatalysis. The current study offers a viable strategy for constructing two-dimensional trimetallic EOR electrocatalysts with well-defined interfaces, potentially paving the way for the rational design of high-performance fuel cell catalysts.</p>","PeriodicalId":70,"journal":{"name":"CrystEngComm","volume":" 7","pages":" 1016-1025"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143379672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CrystEngCommPub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.1039/D4CE01293C
Ming-Li Ma, Le-Chen Zheng, Rui Li and Yabo Xie
{"title":"Facile and versatile construction of MOF@COF heterostructures in atmospheric air for enhanced CO2 photoreduction†","authors":"Ming-Li Ma, Le-Chen Zheng, Rui Li and Yabo Xie","doi":"10.1039/D4CE01293C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CE01293C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >MOF@COF heterostructures featuring abundant porosity, designable structures and efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers are enthusiastically embraced as promising candidates for the capture and conversion of CO<small><sub>2</sub></small>. Nonetheless, their laborious synthesis procedures involving energy-consuming protection and degassing steps severely impede their widespread application. In this study, a concentration-acid co-regulation strategy was developed to synthesize highly efficient MOF@COF composites in atmospheric air, obviating the need for vacuum, inert gases, and/or repeated freezing. With reduced supersaturation of synthesis mixtures and intensified competitive coordination from acid modulators, the crystallization of COFs was strategically confined to the exterior surfaces of MOFs, fostering intimate contact to facilitate the interphase electron transfer. The synthesized MOF@COF heterostructures thereby exhibited radically enhanced CO<small><sub>2</sub></small>RR performances, yielding <em>ca.</em> 2.5 times more CO than the original deficiently contacted composite. Moreover, the versatility of the synthesis strategy was validated using altered MOF and COF structures, shedding light on the significance of crystallization regulation in fabricating advantageous heterostructures. These findings are poised to effectively propel the development and practical implementation of MOF@COF composites.</p>","PeriodicalId":70,"journal":{"name":"CrystEngComm","volume":" 9","pages":" 1297-1306"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143475051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CrystEngCommPub Date : 2025-01-16DOI: 10.1039/D4CE01233J
Hangchuan Zhang, Jingpeng Guo, Lin Liu, Zhan Yu and Na Wei
{"title":"Thiadiazole-functionalized Pb(ii)-MOF for “turn-on” fluorescence selective sensing of Al3+†","authors":"Hangchuan Zhang, Jingpeng Guo, Lin Liu, Zhan Yu and Na Wei","doi":"10.1039/D4CE01233J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CE01233J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Multifunctional metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for fluorescence sensing have received considerable attention. In this work, a novel thiadiazole-functionalized Pb(<small>II</small>) based MOF, [Pb(BTDB)(DMF)]<small><sub><em>n</em></sub></small> (H<small><sub>2</sub></small>BTDB = 4,4′-(benzo[<em>c</em>][1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,7-diyl)dibenzoic acid, DMF = <em>N</em>,<em>N</em>-dimethylformamide), has been constructed <em>via</em> a solvothermal method, which presents a two-dimensional layer structure. This Pb(<small>II</small>)-MOF exhibits chemical stability in some organic solvents for a long time, and the thiadiazole groups on the ligands endow this Pb(<small>II</small>)-MOF with outstanding fluorescence properties. Moreover, Pb(<small>II</small>)-MOF can selectively detect Al<small><sup>3+</sup></small> through fluorescence enhancement and blue shift, with a detection limit of 11 μM, and this material as a fluorescent sensor to identify Al<small><sup>3+</sup></small> demonstrates excellent anti-interference ability, sensitivity and recyclability. The mechanism of sensing is further explored using XPS and FTIR spectroscopy and the results reveal that the “turn-on” and blue-shift fluorescence phenomena are attributed to the intermolecular interaction between nitrogen atoms in the thiadiazole groups and Al<small><sup>3+</sup></small>.</p>","PeriodicalId":70,"journal":{"name":"CrystEngComm","volume":" 7","pages":" 956-963"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143379626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CrystEngCommPub Date : 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1039/D4CE01175A
Rosa M. Gomila and Antonio Frontera
{"title":"Noble gas bonds facilitate anion⋯anion supramolecular assemblies: insights from CSD and DFT analysis†","authors":"Rosa M. Gomila and Antonio Frontera","doi":"10.1039/D4CE01175A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CE01175A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Noble gas bonding (NgB) is a noncovalent interaction where noble gases, such as xenon or krypton, function as Lewis acids. These interactions arise from regions of positive electrostatic potential, known as σ-holes or π-holes, which form on the noble gas atom and interact with electron-rich sites, such as lone pairs or anions. Although recently discovered, NgBs have demonstrated considerable potential in supramolecular chemistry, with their strength—especially in the case of heavier noble gases like xenon—comparable to that of hydrogen bonds. Anion⋯anion interactions, which are typically hindered by electrostatic repulsion, can occur through attractive forces like σ-hole and π-hole interactions. While these interactions are increasingly observed in biological and synthetic systems, particularly in solid-state and polar environments, their stabilization <em>via</em> NgBs remains largely unexplored. In this study, we present a computational and experimental analysis of noble gas bonds (NgBs) facilitating anion⋯anion interactions, emphasizing the unique role of xenon as a σ-hole donor. Through a combination of Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) inspection and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we reveal the novel contribution of NgBs in dispersing electrostatic charge, allowing for the stabilization of anion⋯anion dimers. Our findings suggest that, while the concept of counterion-mediated anion⋯anion attraction is well known, the use of noble gas bonding offers a distinct and previously unexplored mechanism for enabling such interactions. These results open new possibilities for designing supramolecular assemblies with unconventional bonding motifs.</p>","PeriodicalId":70,"journal":{"name":"CrystEngComm","volume":" 7","pages":" 989-996"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ce/d4ce01175a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143379652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CrystEngCommPub Date : 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1039/D4CE01153H
Kinga Wzgarda-Raj, Agnieszka J. Rybarczyk-Pirek and Marcin Palusiak
{"title":"The N–H⋯S hydrogen bonding pattern in trithiocyanuric acid in crystalline state: geometric, topological, and energetic analysis of trithiocyanuric acid cocrystals†","authors":"Kinga Wzgarda-Raj, Agnieszka J. Rybarczyk-Pirek and Marcin Palusiak","doi":"10.1039/D4CE01153H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CE01153H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Four new crystal structures of trithiocyanuric acid (TTCA) with diazine derivatives have been determined, revealing key N–H⋯S interactions that stabilize molecular aggregates. TTCA forms two types of chains—linear and zigzag—each with distinct structural characteristics. Geometry and Hirshfeld surface analyses, supported by quantum-theoretical calculations, demonstrate that both chain arrangements are equally feasible, arising from inherent preferences in the crystal's structural organization. The critical role of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, particularly those involving amine groups as proton donors, in stabilizing these cocrystals is highlighted. To analyze the energy parameters, we applied the many-body extension of the supramolecular interaction energy approach for chain complexes in their crystal-state geometry, allowing decomposition of the interaction energy into two- and many-body contributions. The prevalent hydrogen bonding synthon, R<small><sup>2</sup></small><small><sub>2</sub></small>(8), which forms both linear and zigzag chain structures, was found to be crucial in stabilizing the TTCA aggregates.</p>","PeriodicalId":70,"journal":{"name":"CrystEngComm","volume":" 6","pages":" 784-794"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143107290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CrystEngCommPub Date : 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1039/D4CE01126K
Sawaira Atta, Amna Siddique, Muhammad Naveed Qasim, Murad A. AlDamen, Tahir Ali Sheikh, Normamatov Adkhamjon Sadullayevich, Aziz B. Ibragimov and Muhammad Nadeem Akhtar
{"title":"Perchlorate-supported Cu(ii)-based 1D polymeric chains containing 1,10-phenanthroline: synthesis, characterization and adsorption of organic dyes and heavy metal ions†","authors":"Sawaira Atta, Amna Siddique, Muhammad Naveed Qasim, Murad A. AlDamen, Tahir Ali Sheikh, Normamatov Adkhamjon Sadullayevich, Aziz B. Ibragimov and Muhammad Nadeem Akhtar","doi":"10.1039/D4CE01126K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CE01126K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >A one-dimensional (1D) copper(<small>II</small>) polymeric chain, [Cu(1,10-phen)(ClO<small><sub>4</sub></small>)(H<small><sub>2</sub></small>O)<small><sub>2</sub></small>]<small><sub>n</sub></small> (<strong>1</strong>), was synthesized by reacting Cu(ClO<small><sub>4</sub></small>)<small><sub>2</sub></small>·6H<small><sub>2</sub></small>O with 1,10-phenanthroline in the presence of triethylamine in methanol. X-ray crystallography revealed that 1,10-phenanthroline acted as a bidentate ligand, while ClO<small><sub>4</sub></small><small><sup>−</sup></small> served as a perchlorate-bridged linker, generating a 1D-polymeric chain. Adsorption studies were conducted for <strong>1</strong> against methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO) and heavy metal ions such as copper (Cu<small><sup>2+</sup></small>) and cadmium (Cd<small><sup>2+</sup></small>). In the case of MB, the maximum adsorption efficiency by adsorbent <strong>1</strong> was interpreted to be the highest (85.13%) at pH 3; however, for MO, it was 68.10%, and in the case of heavy metals, the maximum adsorption capacity was recorded for Cd (52.20%), in contrast to Cu (34.87%). The adsorption mechanism was rationalized by the fact that the dye molecules, equipped with aromatic moieties, interacted with <strong>1</strong> through electrostatic interactions, π⋯π interactions and OH⋯π interactions. However, with reference to heavy metals, <strong>1</strong> primarily exhibited electrostatic interactions with the metal ions (Cd<small><sup>2+</sup></small> and Cu<small><sup>2+</sup></small>). The adsorption behavior of MB and MO significantly corroborated the pseudo-second-order kinetics, which indicated chemisorption as the main mechanism.</p>","PeriodicalId":70,"journal":{"name":"CrystEngComm","volume":" 9","pages":" 1346-1362"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143474978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CrystEngCommPub Date : 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1039/D4CE01001A
Henrik L. Andersen, Matilde Saura-Múzquiz, Cecilia Granados-Miralles, Rebekka Klemmt, Espen D. Bøjesen and Mogens Christensen
{"title":"Crystal/magnetic structure and cation inversion in hydrothermally synthesized MnFe2O4, CoFe2O4, NiFe2O4, and ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles: a neutron powder diffraction study†","authors":"Henrik L. Andersen, Matilde Saura-Múzquiz, Cecilia Granados-Miralles, Rebekka Klemmt, Espen D. Bøjesen and Mogens Christensen","doi":"10.1039/D4CE01001A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CE01001A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The crystal and magnetic structures of MnFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small>, CoFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small>, NiFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> and ZnFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> nanocrystallites are reported based on joint structural modelling of powder X-ray diffraction and neutron powder diffraction data. The nanoparticle samples were prepared using equivalent precursor preparation routes (co-precipitation of transition metal hydroxides using NH<small><sub>4</sub></small>OH) and identical hydrothermal synthesis conditions (steel autoclave, 200 °C, 1 hour), allowing the isolated effect of the divalent cation to be evaluated. The study uncovers how variations in cation site preferences, spinel inversion degree, and crystallite size, which are challenging to discern using conventional characterization techniques, distinctly influence the magnetic structures. Diffraction peak profile analysis and scanning transmission electron microscopy images show how MnFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> forms the largest crystallites (17.13(2) nm), followed by NiFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> (10.31(1) nm) and CoFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> (7.92(1) nm), while ZnFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> forms ultrafine nanoparticles of only 3.70(1) nm. The transition metal ions have different affinities for the tetrahedral and octahedral crystallographic sites as evident from the obtained spinel inversion degrees, <em>x</em>, [M<small><sup>2+</sup></small><small><sub>1−<em>x</em></sub></small>Fe<small><sup>3+</sup></small><small><sub><em>x</em></sub></small>]<small><sup>tet</sup></small>[M<small><sup>2+</sup></small><small><sub><em>x</em></sub></small>Fe<small><sup>3+</sup></small><small><sub>2−<em>x</em></sub></small>]<small><sup>oct</sup></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small>. The MnFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> and CoFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> nanocrystallites exhibit mixed/semi-inverse spinel structures with <em>x</em> = 0.87(3) and 0.954(6), respectively, while NiFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> is fully inverse (<em>x</em> = 1.00) and ZnFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> is closer to a normal spinel (<em>x</em> = 0.138(4)). The combination of neutron diffraction and magnetic measurements illustrates how cation identity impacts site occupancy, crystallite size, and magnetization, providing new insights into the design of ferrite-based nanomaterials for magnetic applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":70,"journal":{"name":"CrystEngComm","volume":" 6","pages":" 850-864"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ce/d4ce01001a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143107251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}