Development of quinoline-based heteroatom polybenzoxazines reinforced graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) carbonisation composites for emerging supercapacitor applications

The current research described in this paper, focuses on the development of a new quinoline-based Mannich-type benzoxazine and its use to obtain advanced carbonisation materials with a high energy storage capacity. Based on this, a quinoline-based benzoxazine monomer (Q-xda) was synthesised by a reaction between 8-hydroxyquinoline, xylylenediamine and paraformaldehyde, and it is characterised by FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Composites were prepared from the benzoxazine and variable weight percentages of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) (i.e., 5, 10, and 15 wt%). The oxazine ring-opening curing process of the polybenzoxazine composites, and its subsequent pyrolysis reaction was performed; and their chemical structures were confirmed using FT-IR spectroscopy. Also, the thermal and morphological characteristics of the composites were evaluated by XRD, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and SEM analyses. According to the results of the thermal experiments, adding GCN reinforcement significantly increased the thermal stability and char yield of the resultant composites. Electrochemical, and hydrophobic investigations were also carried out, and the results of these suggesting that the composites reinforced with 15 wt% GCN exhibit the highest dielectric constant (high κ = 10.2) and contact angle (145°). However, all the crosslinked composites demonstrated a remarkable electrochemical performance as pseudocapacitors. The resulting poly(Q-xda) + 15 wt% GCN electrodes showed a higher capacitance and a lower transferred charge resistance (i.e., 370 F g-1 at 6 A g-1 and 20.8 Ω) than the poly(Q-xda) electrode (i.e., 216 F g-1 at 6 A g-1 and 26.0 Ω). In addition, the poly(Q-xda) + 15% GCN exhibited a cycling efficiency of 96.2% even after 2000 cycles. From these results, it can be concluded that the constructed electrodes perform well in electrochemical operations.

Progress in Research and Application of Metal-Organic Gels: A Review

In recent years, metal-organic gels (MOGs) have attracted much attention due to their hierarchical porous structure, large specific surface area, and good surface modifiability. Compared with MOFs, the synthesis conditions of MOGs are gentler and more stable. At present, MOGs are widely used in the fields of catalysis, adsorption, energy storage, electrochromic devices, sensing, analysis, and detection. In this paper, literature metrology and knowledge graph visualization analysis are adopted to analyze and summarize the literature data in the field of MOGs. The visualization maps of the temporal distribution, spatial distribution, authors and institutions' distribution, influence of highly cited literature and journals, keyword clustering, and research trends are helpful to clearly grasp the content and development trend of MOG materials research, point out the future research direction for scholars, and promote the practical application of MOGs. At the same time, the paper reviews the research and application progress of MOGs in recent years by combining keyword clustering, time lines, and emergence maps, and looks forward to their challenges, future development trend, and application prospects.

An Iron(III)-Based Metal-Organic Gel-Catalyzed Dual Electrochemiluminescence System for Cytosensing and In Situ Evaluation of the VEGF165 Subtype

The recent surge of interest in metal-organic gels (MOGs) has emerged for their soft porous structure, large surface area, and abundant active metal sites, making them a promising candidate for building catalyst matrices. In this work, facilely synthesized Fe(III)-organic gel was directly used as a robust electrode matrix. Detailed studies illustrated that their Fe(III) centers can speed up the electro-oxidation/reduction of the H₂O₂ coreactant to produce reactive oxygen species for enhancing a potential-resolved dual electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emission. Among them, the anodic signal of luminol varied with the cell concentration based on the impedance ECL mechanism, while the cathodic signal of CdS quantum dots traced the VEGF₁₆₅ subtype at cell surface by specific aptamer recognition. Based on this, a ratiometric strategy was proposed for accurate cytosensing by eliminating environmental interference. Moreover, by cooperating these two signals, a novel strategy was developed for direct evaluation of the VEGF₁₆₅ subtype, further realizing rapid drug screening and subtype assessment on different cell lines. This work not only opens up the promising application of MOGs as an effective catalyst matrix but also develops reliable cell assays and protein subtype identification for clinical diagnosis and research.

Hierarchical porous metal–organic gels and derived materials: from fundamentals to potential applications

This review summarizes recent progress in the development and applications of metal–organic gels (MOGs) and their hybrids and derivatives dividing them into subclasses and discussing their synthesis, design and structure–property relationship.

Phytic Acid-Based FeCo Bimetallic Metal-Organic Gels for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Electrocatalysts have been developed to improve the efficiency of gas release for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and finding a simple and efficient method for efficient electrocatalysts has inspired research enthusiasm. Herein, we report bimetallic metal-organic gels derived from phytic acid (PA) and mixed transition metal ions to explore their performance in electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. PA is a natural phosphorus-rich organic compound, which can be obtained from plant seeds and grains. PA reacts with bimetallic ions (Fe³⁺ and Co²⁺ ) in a facile one-pot synthesis under mild conditions to form PA-FeCo bimetallic gels, and the corresponding aerogels are further partially reduced with NaBH₄ to improve the electrocatalytic activity. Mixed valence states of Fe(II)/Fe(III) and Co(III)/Co(II) are present in the materials. Excellent OER performance in terms of overpotential (257 mV at 20 mA cm^-2 ) and Tafel slope (36 mV dec^-1 ) is achieved in an alkaline electrolyte. This reduction method is superior to the pyrolysis method by well maintaining the gel morphology structure. This strategy is conducive to the further improvement of the performance of metal-organic electrocatalysts, and provides guidance for the subsequent application of metal-organic gel electrocatalysts.

Metal-Organic Frameworks and Metal-Organic Gels for Oxygen Electrocatalysis: Structural and Compositional Considerations

Increasing demand for sustainable and clean energy is calling for the next-generation energy conversion and storage technologies such as fuel cells, water electrolyzers, CO₂ /N₂ reduction electrolyzers, metal-air batteries, etc. All these electrochemical processes involve oxygen electrocatalysis. Boosting the intrinsic activity and the active-site density through rational design of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and metal-organic gels (MOGs) as precursors represents a new approach toward improving oxygen electrocatalysis efficiency. MOFs/MOGs afford a broad selection of combinations between metal nodes and organic linkers and are known to produce electrocatalysts with high surface areas, variable porosity, and excellent activity after pyrolysis. Some recent studies on MOFs/MOGs for oxygen electrocatalysis and their new perspectives in synthesis, characterization, and performance are discussed. New insights on the structural and compositional design in MOF/MOG-derived oxygen electrocatalysts are summarized. Critical challenges and future research directions are also outlined.

Zirconium-based metal-organic framework gels for selective luminescence sensing

Metal–organic gelation represents a promising approach to fabricate functional nanomaterials. Herein a series of Zr-carboxylate gels are synthesized from rigid pyrene, porphyrin and tetraphenyl ethylene-derived tetracarboxylate linkers, namely Zr-TBAPy (H₄TBAPy = 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(4-carboxylphenyl)pyrene), Zr-TCPE (H₄TCPE = 1,1,2,2-tetra(4-carboxylphenyl)ethylene), and Zr-TCPP (H₄TCPP = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin). The gels are aggregated from metal–organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles. Zr-TBAPy gel consists of NU-901 nanoparticles, and Zr-TCPP gel consists of PCN-224 nanoparticles. The xerogels show high surface areas up to 1203 m² g⁻¹. MOF gel films are also anchored on the butterfly wing template to yield Zr-MOF/B composites. Zr-TBAPy and Zr-TCPE gels are luminescent for solution-phase sensing and vapour-phase sensing of volatile organic compounds, and exhibit a significant luminescence quenching effect for electron-deficient analytes. Arising from the high porosity and good dispersion of luminescent MOF gels, rapid and effective vapour-sensing of nitrobenzene and 2-nitrotoluene within 30 s has been achieved via Zr-TBAPy film or Zr-TBAPy/B.

Zr-based MOF nanomaterials are developed via a metal–organic gelation method for rapid and effective luminescence vapour-sensing.

Synthesis and Performance of MOF-Based Non-Noble Metal Catalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review

Hydrogen is widely regarded as a prime energy carrier for bridging the gap between renewable energy supply and demand. As the energy-generating component of the hydrogen cycle, affordable and reliable fuel cells are of key importance to the growth of the hydrogen economy. However, the use of scarce and costly Pt as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) remains an issue to be addressed, and in this regard, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are viewed as promising non-noble alternatives because of their self-assembly capability and tunable properties. Herein, recent (2018-2020) works on MOF-based electrocatalysts containing N-doped C, Mn, Fe, Co, multiple metals, and multiple sites are reviewed and summarized with a focus on ORR activity, and the principal physicochemical properties and electrochemical performance of these catalysts realized using rotating electrodes are compared.

S, Kurungot S, Nair BN, Mohamed AP, Anilkumar GM, Yamaguchi T, Hareesh US. Template assisted synthesis of Ni,N co-doped porous carbon from Ni incorporated ZIF-8 frameworks for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction

Ni,N co-doped porous carbon derived from nickel containing ZIF-8 frameworks for enhanced ORR performance in alkaline medium.

Fine Co nanoparticles encapsulated in N-doped porous carbon for efficient oxygen reduction

Through the acid pickling of Co@NPC, which was obtained by one-step calcination of ZIF-67 in N₂ and condition optimization of Co nanoparticle sizes, a catalyst of fine Co nanoparticles encapsulated in N-doped porous carbon with excellent ORR performance was prepared.