Coordination Polymer Based on Nickel(II) Maleate and 4′-Phenyl-2,2′:6′,2″-Terpyridine: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Conjugated Thermolysis

AI-driven identification of a novel malate structure from recycled lithium-ion batteries

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the discovery of new materials offers significant potential for advancing sustainable technologies. This paper presents a novel approach leveraging AI-driven methodologies to identify a new malate structure derived from the treatment of spent lithium-ion batteries. By analysing bibliographic data and incorporating domain-specific knowledge, AI facilitated the identification and structure refinement of a new malate complex containing different metals (Ni, Mn, Co, and Cu). The synthesized compound was investigated through chemical and physical analyses, confirming its unique structure and composition. The present work proposes a significant difference from the classical use of AI in materials science, typically rooted in data-driven approaches relying on extensive datasets. This hybrid approach, combining AI's computational power with human expertise, not only expedited the structure determination process but also ensured the reliability and accuracy of the results. Finally, AI-driven material discovery highlights that waste materials can be transformed into valuable chemical products, suggesting their possible reuse, with several expected benefits, emphasising the role of AI in fostering not only innovation but also sustainability in material science.

Self-Healing of Polymers and Polymer Composites

This review is devoted to the description of methods for the self-healing of polymers, polymer composites, and coatings. The self-healing of damages that occur during the operation of the corresponding structures makes it possible to extend the service life of the latter, and in this case, the problem of saving non-renewable resources is simultaneously solved. Two strategies are considered: (a) creating reversible crosslinks in the thermoplastic and (b) introducing a healing agent into cracks. Bond exchange reactions in network polymers (a) proceed as a dissociative process, in which crosslinks are split into their constituent reactive fragments with subsequent regeneration, or as an associative process, the limiting stage of which is the interaction of the reactive end group and the crosslink. The latter process is implemented in vitrimers. Strategy (b) is associated with the use of containers (hollow glass fibers, capsules, microvessels) that burst under the action of a crack. Particular attention is paid to self-healing processes in metallopolymer systems.

Structural topologies involving energetically significant antiparallel π-stacking and unconventional N(nitrile)⋯π(fumarate) contacts in dinuclear Zn(ii) and polymeric Mn(ii) compounds: antiproliferative evaluation and theoretical studies

Anticancer activities considering cell viability, apoptosis and molecular docking have been explored in dinuclear Zn(ii) and polymeric Mn(ii) compounds involving energetically significant unconventional N(nitrile)⋯π(fum) contacts.