Guest Hydrogen Research Articles

Constructing Quasi‐Single Ion Conductors by a β‐Cyclodextrin Polymer to Stabilize Zn Anode

AbstractAqueous Zn‐ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for the next‐generation large‐scale energy storage. However, the Zn anode remains facing challenges. Here, we report a cyclodextrin polymer (P‐CD) to construct quasi‐single ion conductor for coating and protecting Zn anodes. The P‐CD coating layer inhibited the corrosion of Zn anode and prevented the side reaction of metal anodes. More important is that the cyclodextrin units enabled the trapping of anions through host–guest interactions and hydrogen bonds, forming a quasi‐single ion conductor that elevated the Zn ion transference number (from 0.31 to 0.68), suppressed the formation of space charge regions and hence stabilized the plating/striping of Zn ions. As a result, the Zn//Zn symmetric cells coated with P‐CD achieved a 70.6 times improvement in cycle life at high current densities of 10 mA cm−2 with 10 mAh cm−2. Importantly, the Zn//K1.1V3O8 (KVO) full‐cells with high mass loading of cathode materials and low N/P ratio of 1.46 reached the capacity retention of 94.5 % after 1000 cycles at 10 A g−1; while the cell without coating failed only after 230 cycles. These results provide novel perspective into the control of solid‐electrolyte interfaces for stabilizing Zn anode and offer a practical strategy to improve AZIBs.

Room temperature shape self-adjustable tough hydrogel based on multi-physical crosslinking

Room temperature shape adjustable hydrogels (rtSAH) can be (re)processed into different stable shapes at ambient conditions, making them appealing for various applications. However, elastomer-like and mechanically tough rtSAH is hard to obtain because of the elastic recovery force that prevents a deformed new shape from being fixed. Herein, we demonstrate a supramolecular elastic rtSAH having high tensile strength (2.6 MPa) and large strain at break (1770 %), whose network structure is designed to rely on a combination of strong and weak non-covalent interactions through three types of physical crosslinking: host–guest interaction, hydrogen bonding and coordination interaction. When deformed at room temperature and held in that state for sufficient time, the hydrogel adapts to a stable new shape while remaining elastic. The reconstruction of the dynamic Fe3+-carboxylate coordination interaction in the deformed hydrogel is the key to self-locking the new shape with stored elastic energy and enabling the shape memory function. Exposure the rtSAH to UV light or an acid solution disrupts the coordination crosslinking and allows the hydrogel to recover its initial shape. The demonstrated structural design represents an effective strategy to develop all-physically crosslinked shape memory hydrogels whose shapes can be reprocessed and self-locked at room-temperature.

In situ self-assembly of artesunate-β-cyclodextrin supramolecular nanomedicine as potential anti-cancer prodrug

Supramolecular nanomedicines have drawn great interest in cancer therapy, but their potential immunotoxicities restrict application in clinical translation. Herein, we constructed a supramolecular nanomedicine CD-Artesunate (CD-ATS) in situ by supramolecular polymerization and orthogonal self-assembly. The nanostructure was meticulously characterized using 1D and 2D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Mass spectrometry, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and particle size distribution analysis. β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) hosts are conjugated with artesunate (ATS) by click chemistry to improve the solubility and antitumor activity of ATS. Supramolecular nanomedicine was prepared through orthogonal self-assembly driven by host−guest complexation and hydrogen bonds. The results showed that the aqueous solubility of CD-ATS was 30 times better than that of free ATS. Furthermore, CD-ATS displayed a superior antitumor effect against HCT116 tumor cells compared to the first-line drug Taxol. This enhanced effect was attributed to the induction of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which subsequently triggered apoptosis.

Host–Guest Interaction and Hydrogen Bonding Cross-Linking Actuated Smart Two-Dimensional Photonic Hydrogel Sensor of l-Histidine

Host–Guest Interaction and Hydrogen Bonding Cross-Linking Actuated Smart Two-Dimensional Photonic Hydrogel Sensor of <scp>l</scp>-Histidine

Bulk transparent supramolecular glass enabled by host–guest molecular recognition

Supramolecular glass is a non-covalently cross-linked amorphous material that exhibits excellent optical properties and unique intrinsic structural features. Compared with artificial inorganic/organic glass, which has been extensively developed, supramolecular glass is still in the infancy stage, and itself is rarely recognized and studied thus far. Herein, we present the development of the host–guest molecular recognition motifs between methyl-β-cyclodextrin and para-hydroxybenzoic acid as the building blocks of supramolecular glass. Non-covalent polymerization resulting from the host–guest complexation and hydrogen bonding formation enables high transparency and bulk state to supramolecular glass. Various advantages, including recyclability, compatibility, and thermal processability, are associated with dynamic assembly pattern. Short-range order (host–guest complexation) and long-range disorder (three dimensional polymeric network) structures are identified simultaneously, thus demonstrating the typical structural characteristics of glass. This work provides a supramolecular strategy for constructing transparent materials from organic components.

Photoionization Cross Section for H@Cn${\text{H@C}}_{n}$ Implanted in Nonideal Classical Plasmas

AbstractIn this study, photoionization cross sections of guest hydrogen atom in endohedral fullerene () modeled by the Woods–Saxon confinement potential implanted in the nonideal classical plasma (NICP) under spherical confinement are reported for the first time in the related literature. The relevant wave equation is solved numerically via the tridiagonal matrix method and then the energy levels, bound and continuum wave functions are interpreted. Plasma effect is examined by considering plasma temperature and density and is evaluated in the photoionization process. Since the plasma modifies the discrete and continuum spectra by changing the potential energy of hydrogen atom, it closely affects the overlapping of the wave functions of ground state and continuum state. This effect has a distinct response on photoionization resonances. Using different values of endohedral confinement parameters, which means regarding different types of fullerenes, detailed analysis of energy levels, bound and continuum wave functions, and photoionization cross sections are provided by evaluating confinement width, depth, smoothing effect and distance from the spherical encompassement center. The photoionization process of implanted in the NICP (nonideal classical plasma) is highly sensitive to both plasma and endohedral confinement. At this sensitivity, Cooper resonance character is like an encoder for fullerene structure.

Crystal structure of a hexacationic Ag(I)-pillarplex-dodecyl-diammonium pseudo-rotaxane as terephthalate salt

Abstract A new pseudo-rotaxane, consisting of a tubular, organometallic Ag-pillarplex ring and dodecyldiammonium axle component, is introduced and investigated towards potential non-covalent interactions by Full Interaction Maps (FIMs). FIMs predict regions of probable supramolecular interactions solely at the organic ligands, namely the rim and the aromatic rings of the pillarplex. The results were compared to structural parameters experimentally obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The pseudo-rotaxane was crystallized as a hydrated terephthalate salt, and the molecular and the crystal structure are discussed. The experimentally observed interactions are quantified using Hirshfeld surface analysis. In contrast to the FIMs prediction, four different interaction modes can be experimentally observed in the solid-state: encapsulation of a guest molecule, hydrogen bonding, π- and metal interactions.

Effect of ionic liquid modified graphene oxide on mechanical and self-healing application of an ionic elastomer

Thermo-reversible supramolecular crosslinking reactions such as Diels Alder reactions, disulfide metathesis reactions, imine bond formation, metal–ligand interactions, host–guest interactions, hydrogen bonds, and ionic interactions are broadly used for self-healing purposes. Herein, we have studied the ionic supramolecular interactions in miscellaneous nature, which benefit a strong and self-repairing carboxylate nitrile rubber by introducing a low cost and commercially available materials. The excellent mechanical and healing performance were combined by initiating the ionic liquid (IL) and ionic liquid modified graphene oxide (GO) with zinc oxide containing compounds into XNBR rubber. The healing performance and mechanical properties of various rubber composites essentially depend on the dispersion of ionic charges of ionic liquids via graphene oxide and the ionic network structures (zinc-carboxylate network). Graphene oxide and ionic liquid grafted graphene oxide were successfully synthesized. XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and TEM analysis were conducted for in-depth characterization of the ingredients and composite materials. Differential scanning calorimetry, rubber process analyzer, and thermogravimetric studies exhibit various thermal transitions present in the ionic crosslinked XNBR rubber. The ionic crosslinked XNBR rubber with 3 phr of ionic liquid grafted graphene oxide, and ionic liquid grafted graphene oxide with zinc oxide containing compounds exhibits very good tensile strength (3.1 ± 0.2 and 6.1 ± 0.6 MPa respectively) with excellent healing efficiency of 77.4 and 85.2% respectively, which is much greater than the utmost reported non-covalent supramolecular ionic crosslinked elastomers.

“Liquid-like” Water in Clathrates Induced by Host–Guest Hydrogen Bonding

Clathrate structures are sustained by a host lattice formed by hydrogen-bonding water molecules, which encapsulates guest molecules. Up to now, all water molecules in the host lattice are considered ice-like crystallized. Here, we discovered the occurrence of “liquid-like” water molecules and the resulting defects in (polar) tetrahydrofuran clathrates by liquid-state 1H NMR experiments. The liquid-like water molecules start occurring at 271 K, well below the apparent dissociation point (277 K) of the clathrate matrix, via extracting water molecules from the host lattice by host–guest H-bonding. We found an intriguing two-stage dissociation of the clathrate: Partial dissociation at 271 K converting one-third of water molecules into liquid-like followed by complete dissociation at 277 K. The clathrate structure is molecularly heterogeneous in the region between 271 K and 277 K. No liquid-like water exists in (nonpolar) cyclopentane clathrates. This work uncovers the essentiality of host–guest interaction for clathrate structures and the ability to tune their stability using polar molecules.

A highly efficient bionic self-healing flexible waterborne polyurethane elastic film based on a cyclodextrin–ferrocene host–guest interaction

Flexible WPU elastic films with superior self-healing based on synergic effects between host–guest interactions and hydrogen bonds.

Cyclodextrins Modified/Coated Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Recent progress about a novel organic–inorganic hybrid materials, namely cyclodextrins (CDs) modified/coated metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is summarized by using a special categorization method focusing on the interactions between CDs and MOFs moieties, such as ligand–metal cations interactions, supramolecular interactions including host–guest interactions and hydrogen bonding, as well as covalent bonds. This review mainly focuses on the interactions between CDs and MOFs and the strategy of combining them together, diverse external stimuli responsiveness of CDs-modified/coated MOFs, as well as applications of these hybrid materials to drug delivery and release system, catalysis and detection materials. Additionally, due to the importance of investigating advanced chemical architectures and physiochemical properties of CDs-modified/coated MOFs, a separate section is involved in diverse characterization methods and instruments. Furthermore, this minireview also foresees future research directions in this rapidly developing field.

Insight into anomalous hydrogen adsorption on rare earth metal decorated on 2-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride: a density functional theory study.

Hydrogen interaction with metal atoms is of prime focus for many energy related applications like hydrogen storage, hydrogen evolution using catalysis, etc. Although hydrogen binding with many main group alkaline and transition metals is quite well understood, its binding properties with lanthanides are not well reported. In this article, by density functional theory studies, we show how a rare earth metal, cerium, binds with hydrogen when decorated over a heteropolar 2D material, hexagonal boron nitride. Each cerium adatom is found to bind eight hydrogen molecules which is a much higher number than has been reported for transition metal atoms. However, the highest binding energy occurs at four hydrogen molecules. This anomaly, therefore, is investigated in the present article using first-principles calculations. The number density of hydrogen molecules adsorbed over the cerium adatom is explained by investigating the electronic charge volume interactions owing to a unique geometrical arrangement of the guest hydrogen molecules. The importance of geometrical encapsulation in enhancing electronic interactions is explained.

Nitroprusside as a promising building block to assemble an organic-inorganic hybrid for thermo-responsive switching materials.

We present a new hybrid compound, namely (Me2NH2)[KFe(CN)5(NO)], possessing a unique nitroprusside-based inorganic host framework in 4-connected sra topology encapsulating organic guest cations. The flexible host-guest hydrogen bonds and synchronously deformed inorganic framework give rise to thermal-responsive switching behaviours on both thermal expansion and nonlinear optical properties during the phase transition at around room temperature.

α-Cyclodextrin-Based Polypseudorotaxane Hydrogels.

Supramolecular hydrogels that are based on inclusion complexes between α-cyclodextrin and (co)polymers have gained significant attention over the last decade. They are formed via dynamic noncovalent bonds, such as host–guest interactions and hydrogen bonds, between various building blocks. In contrast to typical chemical crosslinking (covalent linkages), supramolecular crosslinking is a type of physical interaction that is characterized by great flexibility and it can be used with ease to create a variety of “smart” hydrogels. Supramolecular hydrogels based on the self-assembly of polypseudorotaxanes formed by a polymer chain “guest” and α-cyclodextrin “host” are promising materials for a wide range of applications. α-cyclodextrin-based polypseudorotaxane hydrogels are an attractive platform for engineering novel functional materials due to their excellent biocompatibility, thixotropic nature, and reversible and stimuli-responsiveness properties. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current progress in the chemistry and methods of designing and creating α-cyclodextrin-based supramolecular polypseudorotaxane hydrogels. In the described systems, the guests are (co)polymer chains with various architectures or polymeric nanoparticles. The potential applications of such supramolecular hydrogels are also described.

A Highly Stretchable and Self‐Healing Supramolecular Elastomer Based on Sliding Crosslinks and Hydrogen Bonds

AbstractThe long application life and stable performance of stretchable electronics have been putting forward requirements for both higher mechanical properties and better self‐healing ability of polymeric substrates. However, for self‐healing materials, simultaneously improving stretchability and robustness is still challenging. Here, by incorporating sliding crosslinker (polyrotaxanes) and hydrogen bonds into a polymer, a highly stretchable and self‐healable elastomer with good mechanical strength is achieved. The elastomer exhibits very high stretchability, such that it can be stretched to 2800% with a fracture strength of 1.05 MPa. Moreover, the elastomer can achieve nearly complete self‐healing (93%) at 55 °C. Next, tensile tests under different temperatures, step extension experiments, and in situ small angle X‐ray scattering confirm that the excellent stretchability is attributed to the combined effects of sliding cyclodextrins along guest chains and hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, a strain sensor by coating the single‐wall carbon nanotubes onto the surface of the elastic substrate is fabricated.

Spectroscopic Observations of Host–Guest Hydrogen Bonding in Binary Cyclopropanemethanol + Methane Hydrate

Herein, we report a new structure II (sII) hydrate with cyclopropanemethanol (CPM) in the presence of methane (CH4) gas for the first time and investigate the host–guest hydrogen bonding in the bin...

Hydrogen Bonding Guests Direct the Packing of a Small Organic Cage Molecule

A small organic cage molecule (1) containing six nitrile groups was crystallized in the presence of a number of guests with hydrogen bond donor groups, and from different solvents. In total, eight crystal structures of 1 were obtained, six of which are guest-free and two of which are cocrystals. When the guest was resorcinol or pyrogallol, cocrystals did not form, but the presence of the guests directed formation of new crystalline phases that were not observed when the cage was crystallized alone. When the guest was hydroquinone or diaminobenzene, it was possible to isolate cocrystals where the guest hydrogen bonds to some of the nitrile groups of the cage.

Multitopic Supramolecular Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents by Fluorescent Sensors

Two new naphthalimide derivatives (hosts), bearing one or two ethanolamine arms, respectively, were synthesized and tested as fluorescent probes for the detection of a chemical warfare agent simulant (guest). The resulting host–guest hydrogen bonds allowed a recognition mechanism based on supramolecular interactions. The sensor with two ethanolamine groups showed excellent sensibility and selectivity in a turn-on fluorescent response.

Host–Guest Hydrogen Bonding Varies the Charge‐State Behavior of Magnetic Sponges

The electron-donor(D) and -acceptor(A)-assembled D2 A-layer framework [{Ru2 (m-FPhCO2 )4 }2 TCNQ(OMe)2 ]⋅nDCE (1-nDCE; m-FPhCO2 - =m-fluorobenzoate; TCNQ(OMe)2 =2,5-dimethoxyl-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane; DCE=1,2-dichloroethane) undergoes drastic charge-ordered state variations via three distinct states that are a two-electron-transferred state (2e-I), a charge-disproportionated state (1.5e-I), and a one-electron-transferred state (1e-I), depending on the degree of solvation by nDCE. The pristine form 1-4DCE has a paramagnetic 2e-I state, which eventually produces the solvent-free form 1 in 1.5e-I via an intermediate state 1-nDCE (n≤1) in 1e-I. Resolvation of 1 stabilizes 1-DCE, allowing it to switch between 1.5e-I and 1e-I, and to become ferrimagnetic with a Tc of 30 K (1.5e-I) and 88 K (1e-I). The stabilization of the 1e-I state of 1-DCE is due to the presence of host-guest hydrogen bonding that enables to suppress the electron-donation ability of D even in an identical framework with 1.

Host–Guest Hydrogen Bonding Varies the Charge‐State Behavior of Magnetic Sponges

AbstractThe electron‐donor(D) and ‐acceptor(A)‐assembled D2A‐layer framework [{Ru2(m‐FPhCO2)4}2TCNQ(OMe)2]⋅nDCE (1‐nDCE; m‐FPhCO2−=m‐fluorobenzoate; TCNQ(OMe)2=2,5‐dimethoxyl‐7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane; DCE=1,2‐dichloroethane) undergoes drastic charge‐ordered state variations via three distinct states that are a two‐electron‐transferred state (2e‐I), a charge‐disproportionated state (1.5e‐I), and a one‐electron‐transferred state (1e‐I), depending on the degree of solvation by nDCE. The pristine form 1‐4DCE has a paramagnetic 2e‐I state, which eventually produces the solvent‐free form 1 in 1.5e‐I via an intermediate state 1‐nDCE (n≤1) in 1e‐I. Resolvation of 1 stabilizes 1‐DCE, allowing it to switch between 1.5e‐I and 1e‐I, and to become ferrimagnetic with a Tc of 30 K (1.5e‐I) and 88 K (1e‐I). The stabilization of the 1e‐I state of 1‐DCE is due to the presence of host–guest hydrogen bonding that enables to suppress the electron‐donation ability of D even in an identical framework with 1.