Introduction to the themed issue on Advanced Complex Inorganic Nanomaterials

Abstract

Energy, environmental issues and health care are amongst the top priorities of modern society. Such strategic issues have sparked phenomenal interest in inorganic nanomaterials as they hold great promise to develop new advanced devices and equipment which could revolutionise the way we live. Investigating the structuration of materials on the nanoscale has revealed unprecedented physical (optics, magnetism, etc.) and chemical (e.g. catalysis) properties that are absent in bulk matter of the same chemical composition. These specific functionalities are the consequence of a complex multi-level organisation (chemical, structural, textural) of the architecture of inorganic nanomaterials. The global properties and functional performances largely depend on the extent to which these levels are mastered during the synthesis process. A new forum to discuss the evolution and extraordinary revolution brought by such nanomaterials wasmost welcome. This was the scope of the second International Conference on Advanced Complex Inorganic Nanomaterials (ACIN) held in Namur (Belgium), July 15–19, 2013, which was jointly organised by the Laboratory of Inorganic Materials Chemistry at the University of Namur and the Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN) at the University Catholique de Louvain. This meeting gathered an impressive set of renowned international speakers (Michael Graetzel, Zhong Lin Wang, Susumu Kitagawa, Mathias Driess, Xinhe Baho, Marie-Paule Pileni, Leone Spiccia, Lee Cronin, Min Gu, Paolo Samori, Mir Wais Hosseini, Shin-ichi Ohkoshi and Di Zhang, to name but a few) including Nobel Prize winner Jean Marie Lehn, who presented original results. To celebrate this international inorganic chemistry event, New Journal of Chemistry (CNRS and RSC Publishing) present a themed issue gathering original contributions presented as 4 NJC Letters, 25 full papers, 4 Focus reviews and 6 Perspective reviews. This forum offers an update of recent innovations in both fundamental and applied aspects of inorganic nanomaterials (inorganics, ceramics, complexes, hybrids and bio-inspired materials). The latest advances and progress on advanced preparation methods are discussed. In particular, hydrothermal routes are largely used to produce Bi2WO6 microspheres (Zhou et al.), BaTiO3 tube-like arrays (Lamberti et al.), as well as NH4V3O8microcrystals or V2O5 (Vernardou et al.) and H2V3O8 nanowire bundles (Han, Mai et al.) to improve electrochemical performances. Microwave assisted methods are employed to prepare EuPO4 H2O nanostructures (Tran Thu et al.) and layered simple hydroxides (Rogez et al.). Template assisted methods are followed to synthesise ZnO nanostructures/nanowires (Stassi, Cauda et al.) or porous BN and Si/B/C/N monoliths (Miele et al.). We can also point out an original self-assembly route combined with a ship-in-a-bottle method for mesoporous catalysts (Sun et al.), and a surface modification method to functionalize a graphite electrode (Toda, Hayami et al.). Finally, ion exchange methods to produce hollow micro/ nanostructures materials are reviewed by Yan and Rosei. The active field of coordination polymers (CPs)/MOFs and hybrids is also covered. In their review, Van der Voort et al. provide a useful survey of vanadium MOFs and their applications in adsorption, separation and catalysis, whereas Janiak, Henninger et al. highlight novel industrial applications of MOFs for heat transformation. Oshio et al. disclose the crystal structure of an achiral CP whereas Chen et al. present a flexible CP based on a rare heptanuclear Zn cluster featuring selective adsorption properties of alkylbenzene isomers, which are widely used in the chemical industry. Potential Mg precursors to MOFs are also presented (Wilson et al.). Non-siliceous hybrid organic– inorganic nanostructures are reviewed by Yuan et al. whereas Tremel et al. present a Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Molecules, Solids, Reactivity (IMCN/MOST), Universite Catholique de Louvain, Place L. Pasteur 1, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. E-mail: yann.garcia@uclouvain.be b Laboratory of Inorganic Materials Chemistry, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000, Namur, Belgium. E-mail: bao-lian.su@unamur.be c Clare Hall College and Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom. E-mail: bls26@cam.ac.uk DOI: 10.1039/c4nj90013h