Through a solution approach, SnSe(2) nanoplate-graphene composites were prepared and applied as anode materials in lithium ion batteries, showing promising storage performance superior to SnSe(2) nanoplates or graphene alone.

Tubes from tubes: Microporous organic nanotubes were prepared by Sonogashira coupling between tetrakis(4‐ethynylphenyl)methane and N,N′‐di(4‐iodophenyl)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium dichloride. These nanotubes were used as a template for secondary inorganic materials, namely Fe2O3 nanotubes with a high discharge capacity and excellent stability.

Novel iridium(III) complexes containing bis(N-heterocyclic carbene), bis(imidazoline thione) L2, and bis(imidazoline selone) L3 were prepared. The iridium complexes bearing L2 and L3 showed the significant absorption of visible light with maximum intensity at ∼460 nm. Bis(2-(2′-benzothienyl)pyridinato)iridium(III) complexes (Ir-6) with L3 showed excellent ability as a photosensitizer of visible light. Under blue LED irradiation with maximum emission at 460 nm, 0.25 mol % Ir-6 showed 94% conversion of benzylamine for 5 h at room temperature. Through mechanistic studies, it was suggested that the photoinduced oxidative coupling of benzylamine by Ir-6 follows a singlet oxygen pathway. The excellent performance of Ir-6 originated from the efficient visible light absorption at 460 nm and the enhanced triplet state due to the heavy-atom effect of L3. This work shows that bis(imidazoline thione) and bis(imidazoline selone) can be efficient ligands for tuning the optical properties of iridium(III) complexes.

This work shows that hollow and microporous organic polymers (H-MOPs) are good templating materials for the synthesis of inorganic material-carbon nanocomposites. The precursor compound, (NH4)2MoS4, was incorporated into H-MOPs. Heat treatment under argon resulted in the formation of hollow MoS2-carbon nanocomposites (MSC). According to microscopic analysis, the MoS2 in the MSC has a layered structure with an elongated interlayer distance. The MSC showed high reversible discharge capacities up to 802 mA h g(-1) after 30 cycles and excellent rate performance for lithium ion batteries. The promising electrochemical performance of the MSC is attributed to the very thin and disordered nature of MoS2 in the carbon skeleton. The role of chemical components of the MSC in the electrochemical process was suggested.

Through tin precursor chemistry, SnSe nanocrystals were phase-selectively prepared. Monomeric N-heterocyclic stannylene, [Me2Si(NtBu)2Sn:], having lone pair electrons, was prepared by a literature method, and it had a direct reactivity toward selenium powder. The resultant dimerized compound with a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio of Sn to Se was used as a precursor to synthesize tin selenides. Thermolysis of the precursor solution in oleylamine resulted in SnSe plates. The oriented attachment of SnSe plates through (100) crystalline planes formed the SnSe nanocolumns, which were characterized by SEM, TEM, PXRD, EDS, and XPS. The indirect band gap of the SnSe nanocolumns was red-shifted, compared with those of SnSe plates. The SnSe nanocolumns showed an increased photocurrent under visible light irradiation. We believe that similar precursor chemistry in this work can be further extended to group IVA elements.