Currently, because of higher theoretical capacity compared with other materials, the research of Fe2O3 as an anode electrode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been widely reported. By using a microwave-assisted-template method, the Fe-based metal–organic framework (Fe-MIL-88A) material with a spindle-like morphology was prepared by a microwave-assisted method. Via the one-step pyrolysis of Fe-MIL-88A-MW (microwave-assisted synthesis) in air, uniform Fe2O3-MW-4h nanoparticles with a multicavity structure were obtained. The influence of microwave holding time on the formation of internal cavity in Fe-MIL-88A-MW-derived Fe2O3 nanoparticles was investigated. The resulting Fe2O3-MW-4h nanoparticles exhibit the unique advantages of nanomaterials, with a high surface area and large pore volume. These features facilitate the movement of the electrolyte and reduce the resistance of the material. Most importantly, the multicavity structure of Fe2O3-MW-4h nanoparticles could reduce the volume change during the Li+ insertion and extraction process. When materials were used as anode materials for LIBs, the Fe2O3-MW-4h nanoparticles exhibit excellent electrochemical performance. Therefore, the microwave-assisted-template method is promising in manufacturing metal oxides with multicavity structures for the next generation of LIB anode electrode materials.

Polyhedral metallocalixarene nanocage cluster based on pure Ti(IV) ion are to our knowledge un-known hitherto. Herein we reported the first Ti(IV)-based metallocalixarene nanocage cluster by assembling a [Ti13O14] cage with...

A large polymolybdate-templated {Ag49Mo16} cluster protected by six thiacalix[4]arene (TC4A) molecules was synthesized by a one-pot solvothermal reaction. Structural analysis shows that the {Ag49Mo16} is assembled by inserting a [Mo6O22]8-...

A pure inorganic 2D network molybdophosphate, [Mn Mo O (OH) (HPO ) (H O) ] (1 a), synthesized through microwave irradiation with the existence of Mn and organic cations and isolated as [(CH ) NH ] Na[Mn Mo O (OH) (HPO ) (H O) ]⋅12 H O (1), is found to possess highly enhanced performance in lithium-ion batteries' anode materials. The molecule shows multielectron redox properties suitable for producing anode materials with a specific capacity of 602 mA h g at 100 mA g after 50 cycles in lithium-ion batteries, although its specific capacity is the highest among all the reported pure inorganic 2D polyoxometalates to date, the cyclic stability is not that satisfactory. A hybrid nanocomposite of this 2D network and polypyrrole cations effectively reduces the capacity fading in initial cycles, and increases the stability and improves the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries as well.

The microwave-driven synthesis of a heteropoly blue cluster yields a redox active cluster, [(HPO3)6Mo21O60(H2O)4](8-), templated by six phosphite anions whereby two phosphites template a tri-lucunary {Mo15} Dawson structure, and one templates a {Mo6} ring with two of the three remaining phosphites acting as bridging ligands connecting the ring to the {Mo15}.