1. A molecular cross-linking approach for hybrid metal oxides
- Author
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Ekaterina Titarenko, Bastian Ruehle, Richard B. Kaner, Kassandra McCarthy, Zachariah J. Berkson, Philippe Saint-Cricq, Jeffrey I. Zink, Stephan Kraemer, Dahee Jung, Christopher H. Hendon, Xiangfeng Duan, Karena W. Chapman, Alex I. Wixtrom, Alexander M. Spokoyny, Jose A. Rodriguez, Ryan R. Langeslay, Evan C. Wegener, Yanwu Shao, Massimiliano Delferro, Jonathan L. Brosmer, Bradley F. Chmelka, Jeffrey T. Miller, Jian Guo, Marcus Gallagher-Jones, Jee Youn Hwang, Mohamed Nahla, Liban M. A. Saleh, Maher F. El-Kady, and Ignacio B. Martini
- Subjects
Battery (electricity) ,Materials science ,Mechanical Engineering ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,General Chemistry ,010402 general chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Electrochemistry ,01 natural sciences ,0104 chemical sciences ,Metal ,Mechanics of Materials ,Boron oxide ,Robustness (computer science) ,visual_art ,Thermal ,Oxidizing agent ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,General Materials Science ,0210 nano-technology ,Hybrid material - Abstract
There is significant interest in the development of methods to create hybrid materials that transform capabilities, in particular for Earth-abundant metal oxides, such as TiO2, to give improved or new properties relevant to a broad spectrum of applications. Here we introduce an approach we refer to as ‘molecular cross-linking’, whereby a hybrid molecular boron oxide material is formed from polyhedral boron-cluster precursors of the type [B12(OH)12]2–. This new approach is enabled by the inherent robustness of the boron-cluster molecular building block, which is compatible with the harsh thermal and oxidizing conditions that are necessary for the synthesis of many metal oxides. In this work, using a battery of experimental techniques and materials simulation, we show how this material can be interfaced successfully with TiO2 and other metal oxides to give boron-rich hybrid materials with intriguing photophysical and electrochemical properties.
- Published
- 2017