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The advancement of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high performance is crucial across various sectors, notably in space exploration. This advancement hinges on the development of innovative cathode materials. Our research is dedicated to pioneering a new category of cathodes using fluorinated multimetallic materials, with a specific focus on diverging from the traditional Ni, Co, and Mn-based NMC chemistries by substituting nickel and manganese with copper and iron which are more sustainable elements. Our goal is also to enhance the robustness of cathodes upon cycling by substituting oxygen with fluorine as the metal-ligand. To achieve this, an intimate composite blend of CuF 2 and FeF 3 , through the multi-metallic template fluorination (MMTF) methodology using a layered double hydroxide (LDH) as a precursor has been designed. Each of these components was carefully selected for its distinct attributes, including high redox potential, elevated energy density, substantial theoretical capacity, and improved cyclability. The composition denoted as (Cu 1.5 Co 0.5 ) 2+ (Fe 0.75 Al 0.25 ) 3+ has been selected for fluorination because it maximizes Fe 3+ and Cu 2+ amount in the screened LDHs. Subsequently, this particular LDH was fluorinated through solid-gas fluorination at different temperatures (200, 350, and 500 °C) using gaseous molecular fluorine (F 2 ). A comprehensive characterization of these materials using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), 57 Fe Mössbauer spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), and inductively coupled plasma analyses (ICP-AES) was conducted, and the evolution of LDH upon fluorination has revealed an intermediate porous texture particularly sensitive to hydration. Two original crystallographic phases are else obtained by fluorination: one formed by the hydration of the amorphous intermediate compound: Cu 3 Fe 1.5 Al 0.5 F 12 (H 2 O) 12 an anti-perovskite structure and another stabilized through the combination of solid gas fluorination and LDH precursor yielding an original CoFeF 5 -type phase. Raman operando during cyclic voltammetry measurement applied on a sample fluorinated at 500 °C and used as a cathode in front of lithium metal was finally conducted to validate redox activity and mechanism.

A series of exchange-coupled magnetic nanoparticles combining several magnetic phases in an onion-type structure were synthesized by performing a three-step seed-mediated growth process. Iron and cobalt precursors were alternatively decomposed in high-boiling-temperature solvents (288-310 °C) to successively grow CoO and Fe 3- δ O 4 shells (the latter in three stages) on the surface of Fe 3- δ O 4 seeds. The structure and chemical composition of these nanoparticles were investigated in depth by combining a wide panel of advanced techniques, such as scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), electron energy-loss spectroscopy-spectrum imaging (EELS-SI), 57 Fe Mössbauer spectrometry, and X-ray circular magnetic dichroism (XMCD) techniques. The size of the nanoparticles increased progressively after each thermal decomposition step, but the crystal structure of core-shell nanoparticles was significantly modified during the growth of the second shell. Indeed, the antiferromagnetic CoO phase was progressively replaced by the CoFe 2 O 4 ferrimagnet due to the concomitant processes of partial solubilization/crystallization and the interfacial cationic diffusion of iron. A much more complex chemical structure than that suggested by a simple size variation of the nanoparticles is thus proposed, namely Fe 3- δ O 4 @CoO-CoFe 2 O 4 @Fe 3- δ O 4 , where an intermediate Co-based layer was shown to progressively become a single, hybrid magnetic phase (attributed to proximity effects) with a reduction in the CoO amount. In turn, the dual exchange-coupling of this hybrid Co-based intermediate layer (with high anisotropy and ordering temperature) with the surrounding ferrite (core and outer shells) stabilized the particle moment well above room temperature. These effects allow for the production of Fe oxide-based magnetic nanoparticles with high effective anisotropy, thus revealing the potential of this strategy to design rare-earth-free permanent nanomagnets at room temperature., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Among a plethora of drug nanocarriers, biocompatible nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) with a large surface area and an amphiphilic internal microenvironment have emerged as promising drug delivery platforms, mainly for cancer therapy. However, their application in biomedicine still suffers from shortcomings such as a limited chemical and/or colloidal stability and/or toxicity. Here, we report the design of a hierarchically porous nano-object (denoted as USPIO@MIL) combining a benchmark nanoMOF (that is, MIL-100(Fe)) and ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles (that is, maghemite) that is synthesized through a one-pot, cost-effective and environmentally friendly protocol. The synergistic coupling of the physico-chemical and functional properties of both nanoparticles confers to these nano-objects valuable features such as high colloidal stability, high biodegradability, low toxicity, high drug loading capacity as well as stimuli-responsive drug release and superparamagnetic properties. This bimodal MIL-100(Fe)/maghemite nanocarrier once loaded with anti-tumoral and anti-inflammatory drugs (doxorubicin and methotrexate) shows high anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral activities. In addition, the USPIO@MIL nano-object exhibits excellent relaxometric properties and its applicability as an efficient contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging is herein demonstrated. This highlights the high potential of the maghemite@MOF composite integrating the functions of imaging and therapy as a theranostic anti-inflammatory formulation.

In our search for novel insertion compounds for Li-based batteries, we have identified a new mixed iron vanadium based Hexagonal Tungsten Bronze (HTB) type phase. Its synthesis involves two steps which consist first of preparing mixed metal hydrated fluoride Fe1.64V1.36F8(H2O)2 by a microwave assisted thermal process, followed by thermal treatment under air to obtain metastable HTB-(Fe0.55V0.45)F2.67(OH)0.33 hydroxyfluoride. 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry demonstrates the presence of oxidation states Fe2+ and Fe3+ in Fe1.64V1.36F8(H2O)2 as opposed to only Fe3+ in HTB-(Fe0.55V0.47)F2.67(OH)0.33. Moreover, the Mössbauer spectra recorded at 77 K reveal that none of the compounds shows magnetic ordering owing to the presence of V3+ distributed over the crystallographic sites of Fe3+. Complementary X-ray spectroscopy and Rietveld refinement further confirm the successful synthesis of HTB-(Fe0.55V0.45)F2.67(OH)0.33. Electrochemically, the new HTB-(Fe0.55V0.45)F2.67(OH)0.33 shows a first discharge capacity of 181 mA h g-1 with 67% of this capacity remaining upon cycling. Unlike HTB-FeF2.66(OH)0.34, the structure remains stable after the first discharge confirming the positive effect of vanadium in the HTB network.

The catalytic properties of a chemically stable iron porphyrin MOF were evaluated in a reaction with ethyl diazoacetate. In contrast to its homogeneous counterpart, an Fe-porphyrin-MOF features a different reaction pathway leading to the formation of pyrazoline due to the confinement of catalytic sites within the MOF network. Unexpectedly, a sharp increase of the selectivity from 35% (run 1) to 86% (run 5) occurs upon catalyst recycling.

A series of triazole fluoride weberites (M 1-x 2+ M x 3+ )M 3+ F 5 (Htaz) 1-x (taz) x is obtained by hydrothermal synthesis. All phases are found to be isostructural to ZnAlF 5 (Htaz) by powder X-ray diffraction. Weberite structures are prone to induce the magnetic frustration of antiferromagnetic interactions originating from the cationic topology of HTB layers. The (nD) magnetic properties of (0D) Co-Ga, (1D) Zn-Fe, (3D) Fe-Ga, Mn-Fe, Co-Fe and Co-V couples are thus reported. Co 2+ or Fe 2+ magnetic anisotropy induces a negative magnetisation below T N and compensation temperatures for Mn-Fe and Co-Fe couples. All iron 3D magnetic phases exhibit high Néel temperatures, between 81 K and 102 K, and large |θ P /T N | ratios, signalling strong magnetic frustration. Their cation site occupancies and the deduced (de)protonation states of the amine are accurately determined by 57 Fe Mössbauer spectrometry. In addition, this spectroscopy evidences a subtle effect of the atmosphere that surrounds the samples: the magnetic ordering temperatures T N decrease significantly when the samples are cooled under vacuum with respect to samples that are cooled at ambient pressure. This novel phenomenon, which is highlighted for all studied (3D) triazole iron weberites, is reversible, and thus provides promising perspectives for understanding the underlying mechanism.

Two new 3D porphyrin-based metal organic frameworks were obtained by solvothermally reacting iron(iii) chloride, a free base (5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(2,3,4,5-tetrazolyl)phenyl]porphyrin) (H 2 TTPP) and either pyrazine or 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO). Both MOFs displayed a 3-D open framework of the fry topology, where the inorganic building unit is a chain of corner-sharing FeN 4 O 2 octahedra and the porphyrinic linker is metallated with iron during the reaction course, with the N-donor base bridging the iron of the porphyrinic cores. Through thorough structural and spectroscopic analyses of the pyrazine containing material the chemical formula [Fe II pzTTP(FeDMF 1-x FeOH x )] n was inferred (x ≥ 0.25). Whereas the already reported carboxylate analogue is built up from a pure iron(iii) inorganic chain, here spectroscopic and structural studies evidenced a mixed valence iron(ii/iii) state, evidencing that, in agreement with the HSAB theory, the substitution of a carboxylate function by a tetrazolate one allows redox tuning. Finally, both materials feature one-dimensional channels of ca. 8 × 12 Å within the structures with permanent microporosity.

The scalable and environmentally-friendly synthesis of mixed Fe(III)/M(II) (M = Ni, Co, Mg) polycarboxylate porous MOFs based on the Secondary Building Unit approach is reported. A combination of in situ infrared spectroscopy, (57)Fe Mössbauer spectrometry and adsorption microcalorimetry confirms the direct accessibility of the iron(III) and metal(II) sites under low temperature activation conditions.

The exploration of the FeF3/FeF2-Hamtetraz-HF system in dimethylformamide by solvothermal synthesis evidences two isostructural 3D hybrid fluoroferrates. They are prepared from the same starting mixture at two different synthesis temperatures: 120 °C for [Hdma]·(Fe4(II)Fe(III)F8(H2O)2(amtetraz)4) () and 140 °C for [Hdma]1.5·(Fe4.5(II)Fe0.5(III)F7(H2O)(HCOO)(amtetraz)4) (). Both compounds are characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray thermodiffraction, TGA analysis, Mössbauer spectrometry and SQUID magnetometry. They crystallize in the monoclinic system and are built from two distinct chains connected by aminotetrazolate anions. The first chain ∞(Fe(II)FN4) is common to and and can be found in numerous fluorides. In the second chain ∞(Fe3X12) (X = F, N, O), iron cations adopt both valence states Fe(ii)/Fe(iii). The hydrolysis of DMF implies the formation of a [Hdma](+) cation and a (HCOO)(-) anion. The presence of Fe(3+) in both phases is evidenced by (57)Fe Mössbauer spectrometry. The magnetic properties are studied and two transitions from a paramagnetic regime to a long range ordered state below 30 K and 5 K are identified.

The solvothermal reactions of an equimolar mixture of FeF2 and FeF3 with Htaz (1,2,4-triazole), aqueous HF and DMF (dimethylformamide) at 120 °C yielded a series of new hybrid fluoroferrates (1-5). Their structures were characterized by either single crystal or powder X-ray diffraction data analysis. Both classes of hybrid networks were observed according to the Fe(n+)/Htaz/HF starting ratio: class I for 1 and 2 and class II for 3, 4 and 5. Four compounds, [Hdma]·(Fe2(H2O)4F6) (1), [Hdma]·(Fe2(H2O)4F6)·0.5H2O (2), Fe2F5(Htaz) (3) and [Hdma]·(Fe2F5(H2O)(Htaz)(taz)) (4), exhibit both Fe(II) and Fe(III) oxidation states while [Hdma]·(Fe2F5(taz)2) (5) contains only Fe(III) cations. [Hdma]·(Fe2(H2O)4F6) (1) and [Hdma]·(Fe2(H2O)4F6)·0.5H2O (2) contain anionic inorganic chains of alternating corner-sharing Fe(II) and Fe(III) octahedra; they are weakly hydrogen bonded to dimethylammonium cations [Hdma](+) which are formed by the in situ hydrolysis of DMF. The structure of Fe2F5(Htaz) (3) exhibits a three dimensional inorganic network resulting from the association of HTB planes of corner sharing Fe(II)F4N2 and Fe(III)F6 octahedra. [Hdma]·(Fe2F5(H2O)(Htaz)(taz)) (4) and [Hdma]·(Fe2F5(taz)2) (5) reveal two original two-dimensional sheets. In 4, the deprotonated and neutral amines connect trinuclear Fe3F10N6 units of corner-sharing octahedra and mononuclear FeN4(H2O)2 octahedra. Infinite Fe2F5(taz)2 layers in 5 are built up from dinuclear species connected by deprotonated amines along two perpendicular directions. The thermal behavior and Mössbauer spectrometry results are detailed for the first tridimensional mixed valence hybrid fluoroferrate (3).

A mixed cation MIL-53(Cr-Fe) MOF has been obtained by direct synthesis. Multiple experimental techniques have demonstrated the presence of a genuine mixed phase, leading to a breathing behaviour different from either of the single cation analogues.

The hydrolysis of the DMF solvent (DMF = N,N'-dimethylformamide) generates in situ the template cations DMA(+) (dimethylammonium cation): it leads to the first MOF type solid Fe(III)(0.5)Fe(II)(0.5)(OH,F)(O(2)C-C(6)H(4)-CO(2))·0.5DMA with a regular charge order Fe(III)/Fe(II) and an anionic framework with pores filled by counter-cations which behaves as a quasi-1D AF system with alternate localized Fe(II) and Fe(III) moments.

A new metal organic framework (MOF) built up from non-toxic iron and the therapeutically active linker nicotinic acid, with pellagra-curative, vasodilating, and antilipemic properties, has been isolated and characterised via single crystal methods. The release of the therapeutic agent, which is a constituent of the framework, is achieved through the degradation of the hybrid phase, under simulated physiological conditions, allowing for the delivery of the bioactive molecule.

The thermal behaviour of the nanoporous iron(iii) terephthalate MIL-53 is in stark contrast to its chromium and aluminium analogues which show an expansion of the cell during dehydration; with iron, reversible dehydration occurs via evolution of the structure through a highly distorted metastable anhydrous phase to a more regular phase above 423 K in which pore volume remains approximately constant.

The large-pore iron(III) carboxylate MIL-100(Fe) with a zeotype architecture has been isolated under hydrothermal conditions, its structure solved from synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, while Friedel-Crafts benzylation catalytic tests indicate a high activity and selectivity for MIL-100(Fe).

The first three-dimensional iron(II) tetracarboxylate is built from the connection of chains of edge-sharing Fe(II) octahedra by 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylates; magnetic measurements show an antiferromagnetic coupling of ferromagnetic chains below TN = 25(1) K.