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Magnetoelectric materials, which encompass coupled magnetic and electric polarizabilities within a single phase, hold great promises for magnetic controlled electronic components or electric-field controlled spintronics. However, the realization of ideal magnetoelectric materials remains tough due to the inborn competion between ferroelectricity and magnetism in both levels of symmetry and electronic structure. Herein, we introduce a methodology for constructing single phase paramagnetic ferroelectric molecule [TMCM][FeCl4], which shows low-magnetic-field magnetoelectricity at room temperature. By applying a low magnetic field (≤1 kOe), the halogen Cl‧‧‧Cl distance and the volume of [FeCl4]− anions could be manipulated. This structural change causes a characteristic magnetostriction hysteresis, resulting in a substantial deformation of ~10−4 along the a-axis under an in-plane magnetic field of 2 kOe. The magnetostrictive effect is further qualitatively simulated by density functional theory calculations. Furthermore, this mechanical deformation significantly dampens the ferroelectric polarization by directly influencing the overall dipole configuration. As a result, it induces a remarkable α31 component (~89 mV Oe−1 cm−1) of the magnetoelectric tensor. And the magnetoelectric coupling, characterized by the change of polarization, reaches ~12% under 40 kOe magnetic field. Our results exemplify a design methodology that enables the creation of room-temperature magnetoelectrics by leveraging the potent effects of magnetostriction. The authors report a molecular ferroelectric (TMCM)[FeCl4], which shows strong magnetostrictive and magnetoelectric effects at room temperature. The spin-lattice coupling of FeCl4 and flexible structure of organic cations are responsible for these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfoxides are remarkably useful in asymmetric synthesis and drug development. Herein, we propose a new electroenzymatic cascade route to selectively synthesize methyl phenyl sulfoxide rather than methyl phenyl sulfone by the oxidation of thioanisole. Chloroperoxidase (CPO) functionalized with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (ILEMB) is encapsulated into dendritic N-doped mesoporous carbon nanospheres (NMCNs) modified with polyethyleneimine (NMCNs-PEI) to form a biohybrid (CPO-ILEMB@NMCNs-PEI). The in situ generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) species by the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e−ORR) on NMCNs-PEI initiates the subsequent selective oxidation of thioanisole by CPO-ILEMB. NMCNs-PEI shows not only high electroactivity for the 2e−ORR but also good biocompatibility for CPO-ILEMB immobilization. The mesopores in NMCNs-PEI can provide a protective space for the encapsulated enzyme, ensuring the operational stability of the enzyme and avoiding the escape of H2O2, which result in high catalytic activity. The experimental results suggest that the catalytic efficiency of the electroenzymatic cascade system with the CPO-ILEMB@NMCNs-PEI biohybrid is up to 4.5 times higher than that of the free CPO-ILEMB catalytic system with H2O2 generated by NMCNs-PEI for the oxidation of thioanisole to produce methyl phenyl sulfoxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zero-bandgap properties of graphene (Gr) limit its various applications. Fluorination is an alternative strategy to open the bandgap to broaden its applications. However, traditional fluorination methods are detrimental to human health and contribute extensively to environmental pollution. Here, we develop a simple and safe process of weak fluorination that introduces fluorine atoms into Gr, breaking its zero-bandgap structure. This strategy is more environmentally friendly, risk-free, and harmless to humans, making it suitable for large-scale production. Through this highly controllable weak fluorination process, micro-area selective fluorination is achieved and induces excellent photoluminescence characteristics but maintains a high mobility, compared to the pristine Gr with zero bandgap. The degree of fluorination determines the photoelectric and transport properties of Gr. This work provides an experimental foundation for developing materials based on fluorinated graphene and designing high-performance functional devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]