Although great progress has been made in hybrid iodocuprates(i) as lighting phosphors, the effects of aromatic and aliphatic structure directing agents (SDAs) on their water stability, structure and photoluminescence (PL) properties are still not clear. Herein, aromatic N-heterocyclic 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene (dpe), aliphatic N-heterocyclic 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (dbu) and N-aminoethylpiperazine (app) were selected to be SDAs to construct two types of hybrid iodocuprates(i) via a facile in situ approach. Aromatic dpe-derived cations are successfully directed to form (Medpe)(CuI) (1), (Medpe)(CuI) (2), (Etdpe)(CuI) (3), and (Hdpe)(CuI) (4). Three of them contain unprecedented inorganic iodocuprate clusters or chains. The aliphatic N-heterocyclic dbu- and app-derivative cations are responsible for the formation of (Hdbu)(CuI) (5) and (Happ)(CuI)·2I·2HO (6), which contain a (CuI) chain and a (CuI) binuclear cluster, respectively. For the first time, the influence mechanisms of the water stabilities of iodocuprate-based PL materials were disclosed, by analyzing the possible interactions between SDAs and water molecules. 1-2 are PL silent due to their "self-quenching effect". 3, 4 and5 exhibit bright red, orange and yellow solid-state PL emissions at room temperature respectively, originating from the charge transfer between inorganic iodocuprate species and organic N-heterocycles. The co-template approach leads to multiple charge transfers in 6, which features a tunable PL behavior from bluish green to white by varying the excitation light, and has a quantum yield up to 43% (the highest value among hybrid iodocuprates containing (CuI) clusters). The comparative study not only helps us to rationally synthesize iodocuprate-based PL materials with enhanced performance, but also provides a new method to obtain wavelength-dependent PL materials.

Two-dimensional (2D) layered ultrathin bismuth oxychloride nanoplate (BiOCl-UTN) photocatalysts are highly active only under ultraviolet light (energy band gap E g: 3.0–3.1 eV). Herein, unlike using conventional closed-vessel high-temperature synthetic routes, we prepared unprecedented well-crystalline 2D Fe3+ ion-incorporated BiOCl-UTNs [Fe­(III)-BiOCl-UTNs] having ultrathin thicknesses of about 4–5 nm and planar sizes of about 30–50 nm in an open vessel at room temperature and then used in photocatalysis under visible light. The present approach is poly­(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS)-aided, in which the formation of the distinct intermediate composite [PSS-Bi­(OCH2CH2OH)-Fe3+] significantly inhibits the habitual spontaneous growth of BiOCl along the ⟨001⟩ plane and results in Fe­(III)-BiOCl-UTNs. The synthesis shows robust reproducibility and allows large-scale production (5.2 g) with a well-controlled morphology, size, and thickness. Instead of using a tedious high-speed centrifugation process, the Fe­(III)-BiOCl-UTN product is obtained via electrolyte sedimentation which is facile and cost-effective. The successful doping of Fe3+ ions into BiOCl-UTNs, the sustainable layered structure, and the stable lattice arrangement endow Fe­(III)-BiOCl-UTNs with a narrower band gap (E g: 2.55 eV). As-prepared Fe­(III)-BiOCl-UTNs exhibit enhanced separation of photoexcited electrons–holes, rapid transfer of excited electrons to the surface, and significant potential to suppress electron–hole recombination. Consequently, under visible light, Fe­(III)-BiOCl-UTNs achieved a substantially improved catalytic performance (>99%, five-cycle recyclability) to photoreduce Cr­(VI) ions and photodegrade rhodamine B from aqueous solutions. The present performance surpasses pristine BiOCl-UTNs and state-of-the-art photocatalysts. Moreover, we disclosed the morphological optimization, predominant role of e– and •O2 radicals, and typical photocatalytic reaction mechanism. This work offers the first facile and cost-effective alternative to fabricate the iron-doped layered photocatalyst with superior catalytic activity, extendable for other functional materials and diverse practical applications.

Au/Pd/ZnO nanoclusters with ultra-low noble metal loadings were prepared by a one-step and ligand-free method at room temperature. The obtained Au/Pd/ZnO nanoclusters were composed of ZnO nanoclusters decorated with well-dispersed AuPd NPs with ultra-low noble metal loading.

Bismuth oxychloride ultrathin nanoplates (BiOCl‐UTNs) are highly active, but their preparation are limited to closed‐vessel hydrothermal and solvothermal techniques at high temperatures (110–180 °C). Here we report a straightforward poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS)‐mediated route for the large‐scale synthesis of BiOCl‐UTNs at room‐temperature. In an open vessel, 6.15 g of BiOCl‐UTNs with 3–5 nm thickness, and planar dimensions of 30–50 nm were produced. The strong electrostatic interaction between PSS and [Bi2O2]2+ layers inhibited the growth rate of BiOCl nanoplates along <001> direction, and Na+ ions governed the electrolyte sedimentation to produce BiOCl‐UTNs. The resulting BiOCl‐UTNs exhibited high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of antibiotics and organic dyes because of their large specific surface area, increased light absorption ability, and fast separation and transfer efficiency of the photoexcited charge carriers.

The exposed active surface sites in photocatalysts, comprising low-coordinated atomic steps and atomic-level thickness, are vital to achieve efficient catalysis.