Dual/Triple Template-Induced Evolved Emulsion for Controllable Construction of Anisotropic Carbon Nanoparticles from Concave to Convex

Coordinated Ionic Self-Assembly of Highly Ordered Mesoporous Pt2Sn2S6 Networks for Boosted Hydrogen Evolution

Metal sulfide materials, endowed with ordered mesoporosity, offer ample opportunities in a variety of renewable energy applications due to the integration of intrinsic functional properties and enhanced reaction kinetics. Unfortunately, ordered mesoporous metal sulfides have rarely been reported due to immense synthetic difficulties by conventional self-assembly approaches. Herein, we explore a compatible coordinated ionic self-assembly strategy for the facile synthesis of highly ordered mesoporous Pt2Sn2S6 networks with templated mesopores at 4.2 nm in hexagonal mesophase (space group p6mm) and highly accessible surface area. The self-assembly mechanism is further investigated, revealing the role of the cationic surfactant and anionic sulfur pair in balancing suitable interaction and the utilized ammonia and ligand to retard fast precipitation of metal and sulfur source for effective assembly. Owing to the combination of ordered porosity and intrinsic functionality, the mesoporous Pt2Sn2S6 after crystallization exhibits excellent activity (overpotential of 13 mV, Tafel slope of 34 mV dec-1) and long-term durability over 100 h for electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline solution. Our study provides a toolbox for the rational synthesis of functional mesoporous compositions as advanced model platforms for future versatile technologies.

High-Temperature-Mediated Assembly of Polyoxometalate-Induced Ordered Carbonaceous Superstructures

Constructing hierarchical superstructures through one-step bottom-up synthesis poses significant challenges due to strong interactions between additives and micelles, which hinders the formation of heterogeneous configurations. Here, we propose a high-temperature-mediated method to weaken these interactions and manipulate the thermal instability of micellar templates. This approach successfully synthesizes hierarchical superstructures that combine a carbonaceous nanosheet substrate with polyoxometalate (POM)-induced, highly ordered discontinuous nanodots in a single preparation step. The surface nanodots have a diameter of approximately 19 nm and are spaced about 32 nm apart. Besides, the nanodots with various arrangements can be generated by simply adjusting the amount of POM. Importantly, the superstructure features more exposed POM catalytic sites than conventional carbonaceous hybrids lacking surface architectures, resulting in excellent electrochemical performance in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. This high-temperature-mediated approach offers new insights for designing hierarchical superstructures and functional materials with enhanced activities.

Liquid-nano-liquid interface-oriented anisotropic encapsulation

Emulsion interface engineering has been widely employed for the synthesis of nanomaterials with various morphologies. However, the instability of the liquid-liquid interface and uncertain interfacial interactions impose significant limitations on controllable fabrications. Here, we developed a liquid-nano-liquid interface-oriented anisotropic encapsulation strategy for fabricating asymmetric nanohybrids. Specifically, functional nanoparticles such as magnetic nanoparticles, lanthanide fluorescent nanoparticles, and Au nanorods were anisotropically encapsulated by mesoporous polydopamine (mPDA). In this emulsion system, the wetting behavior of functional nanoparticles at the water/oil interface could be manipulated by the stabilizer of the emulsion (surfactant), leading to the anisotropic assembly of mPDA shell and resulting in various nanostructures, including core-shell, yolk-shell with small opening, ball-in-bowl, and multipetal structures. Due to their structural asymmetry, inherent magnetic properties, and photothermal properties, the ball-in-bowl structured Fe3O4@SiO2&mPDA nanohybrids, serving as proof of concept for nanomotors, demonstrated effective penetration of bacterial biofilm and promotion of infected wound healing. Overall, our approach offers a different perspective for designing morphologically controllable asymmetric structures based on liquid-nano-liquid interface in microemulsion systems that hold great potential for establishing innovative functional nanomaterials.

Template Evolution Induced Relay Self-Assembly for Mesoporous Carbonaceous Materials via Hydrothermal Carbonization

Constructing carbonaceous materials with versatile surface structures still remains a great challenge due to limited self-assembly methods, especially at high temperatures. This study presents an innovative template evolution induced relay self-assembly (TEIRSA) for the fabrication of large polyoxometalate (POM)-mixed carbonaceous nanosheets featuring surface mesoporous structures through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). The method employs POM and acetone as additives, cleverly modulating the Ostwald ripening-like process of P123-based micelles, effectively addressing the instability challenges inherent in traditional soft-template methods, especially within the demanding carbohydrate HTC process. Additionally, this method allows for the independent regulation of surface architectures through the selection of organic additives. The resulting nanosheets exhibit diverse surface morphologies, including surface spherical mesopores, 1D open channels, and smooth surfaces. Their unexpectedly versatile properties have swiftly garnered recognition, showing potential in the application of lithium-sulfur batteries.

Anisotropic Interface Successive Assembly for Bowl-Shaped Metal-Organic Framework Nanoreactors with Precisely Controllable Meso-/Microporous Nanodomains

Colloidal metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles, with tailored asymmetric nanoarchitectures and hierarchical meso-/microporosities, have significant implications in high-performance nanocatalysts, nanoencapsulation carriers, and intricate assembly architectures. However, the methodology that could achieve precise control over the anisotropic growth of asymmetric MOF particles with tailored distributions of meso- and microporous regions has not yet been established. In this study, we introduce a facile anisotropic interface successive assembly approach to synthesize asymmetric core-shell MOF (ZIF-67) nanobowls with worm-like mesopores in the core and intrinsic micropores in the shell. Our synthesis pathway relies on anisotropic nucleation of mesoporous MOF nanohemispheres on emulsion interfaces through the cooperative assembly of surfactants and MOF precursors. This is followed by the growth of microporous MOF layers on both interfaces of mesoporous cores and emulsion droplets, resulting in a hierarchically porous core-shell nanostructure. By utilizing this multi-interface-driven approach, we enable the creation of diverse geometries and distributions of mesopores and micropores in asymmetric MOF nanoarchitectures. The obtained bowl-like meso-/microporous core-shell ZIF-67 particles exhibit enhanced catalytic activity for CO2 cycloaddition, attributed to reactant accumulation within the bowl-like architecture, active site accessibility in the open mesoporous core, and improved structural stability. Overall, our study provides insights and inspiration for exploring the intricate asymmetric nanostructures of hierarchically porous MOFs with diverse potential applications.