PbS submicron crystals were formed by thermolysis of two different lead dithiocarbamate complexes. These precursors were readily synthesized and fully characterized, and in situ synchrotron powder diffraction experiments were performed to characterize their decomposition. The structure and purity of resultant PbS was examined using scanning electron and transmission electron microscopies, powder X-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy. Submicron crystalline PbS was used to create a new PbS thermistor with excellent sensitivity and an ultrarapid thermal response time.

Increasing demands for optical anticounterfeiting technology require the development of versatile luminescent materials with tunable photoluminescence properties. Herein, a number of fluorescent carbon‐ and oxygen‐doped hexagonal boron nitride (denoted as BCNO) phosphors are found to offer a such high‐tech anticounterfeiting solution. These multicolor BCNO powders, developed in a two‐step process with controlled annealing and oxidation, feature rod‐like particle shape, with varied luminescence properties. Studies of the optical properties of BCNO, along with other characterization, provide insight into this underexplored material. Anticounterfeiting applications are demonstrated with printed patterns which are indistinguishable to the naked eye under visible light but become highly discernible under UV irradiation. The fabricated patterns are demonstrated to be both chemically stable in corrosive environments and physically robust in mechanical bending testing. These properties render BCNO as promising and versatile anticounterfeiting material a wide variety of environments.

Intramolecular C–H⋯S interactions create restricted rotation of groups within di(isopropyl)dithiocarbate complexes.

In this study, hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (h-BNNS) have been grown on polycrystalline silver substrates via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using ammonia borane as a precursor. The h-BNNS are of few-atomic-layer thickness and form continuous coverage over the whole Ag substrate. The atomically thin coating poses negligible interference to the reflectivity in the UVvisible range. The nanosheet coating also proves very effective in protecting Ag foil chemically. In contrast to bare Ag foil, the coated one displayed only minor decolorization under high 3 concentration of H2S. The study indicates that h-BNNS can be a promising protective coating for Ag based items such as jewelry or mirrors used in astronomical telescopes.

Single crystals of bis(κ 2 S,S′-di(isopropyl)dithiocarbamato) nickel(II) were utilized as a single source precursor for the formation of NiS via thermolysis. The complex decomposed at ~250 °C to form α-NiS exclusively with no β-NiS detected. Analysis of the thermolysis regime using in situ techniques showed that the thermolysis occurs in a single step with the major volatile sideproducts being isopropyl-isothiocyanate and carbon disulfide. The resultant NiS was examined using SEM and TEM to reveal a retention of precursor crystal edge-length and angle relationships.