Understanding the surface chemistry of organic‐inorganic interfaces is a prerequisite for the design of novel nanohybrid materials. Herein, we disclose that phosphonate ligands tightly bind to TiO2 nanoparticle surfaces and cannot be displaced even through repetitive decantation by methanol. However, 1D 1H solution NMR analyses unambiguously show that they can be effectively exchanged by other phosphonic acids. A key enabler for successful measurements is the design and synthesis of a novel phosphonic acid ligand that stabilizes TiO2 nanoparticles in toluene to form homogeneous colloidal conditions.
More than enough is too much! The cover shows a role of phosphonate ligand length in the colloidal stability of TiO2 nanoparticles. In contrast to classical colloid theory, the dodecylphosphonate ligand provided better colloidal stability than the longer or shorter n‐alkylphosphonate ligands. The proposed method is applicable to a wide range of colloidal nanoparticle systems. More information can be found in the Research Article by Y. Okada and co‐workers (DOI: 10.1002/chem.202201560).
Invited for the cover of this issue are Dr. Shohei Yamashita, Tatsuya Sudo, Prof. Dr. Hidehiro Kamiya, and Prof. Dr. Yohei Okada at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. The image depicts the role of phosphonate ligand length in the colloidal stability of TiO2 nanoparticles. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202201560.
The anode properties of SiO-C electrode materials [SiO-C:α-Fe 2 O 3 = x:100 − x (wt%)] containing α-Fe 2 O 3 fine powder (spherical particles, ca. 0.16 µm) as the additive were investigated in a lithium cell using lithium metal as the counter electrode. It was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that spherical α-Fe 2 O 3 particles are present between the SiO-C particles. The SiO-C alloying-reaction electrode exhibited a high capacity of ca. 1330 mAh g −1 . However, the electrode caused a gradual decrease in cycle capacity at around 30 cycles. On the other hand, the α-Fe 2 O 3 conversion-reaction electrode showed a high discharge capacity of ca. 800 mAh g −1, and a good cycle performance over 50 cycles. In addition, charge and discharge were possible even for an α-Fe 2 O 3 electrode without the addition of an electronic conductive material such as carbon. SiO-C electrodes containing a small amount of α-Fe 2 O 3 fine powder exhibited higher capacities and improved cycle performances compared with the SiO-C electrode. The electrode with x = 50 exhibited a discharge capacity of ca. 1000 mAh g −1 and a good cycle performance over 70 cycles. The α-Fe 2 O 3 fine powder works as a conductive path between the SiO-C particles, and prevents the disintegration of the electrode.
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