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Creators/Authors contains: "Dun, Chaochao"

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  1. Palladium-encapsulated covalent organic frameworks (Pd/COFs) have garnered enormous attention in heterogeneous catalysis. However, the dominant ex situ encapsulation synthesis is tedious (multistep), time-consuming (typically 4 days or more), and involves the use of noxious solvents. Here we develop a mechanochemical in situ encapsulation strategy that enables the one-step, timeefficient, and environmentally benign synthesis of Pd/COFs. By ball milling COF precursors along with palladium acetate (Pd(OAc)2) in one pot under air at room temperature, Pd/COF hybrids were readily synthesized within an hour, exhibiting high crystallinity, uniform Pd dispersion, and superb scalability up to gram scale. Moreover, this versatile strategy can be extended to the synthesis of three Pd/COFs. Remarkably, the resulting Pd/DMTP-TPB showcases extraordinary activity (96−99% yield in 1 h at room temperature) and broad substrate scope (>10 functionalized biaryls) for the Suzuki−Miyaura coupling reaction of aryl bromides and arylboronic acids. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of Pd/DMTP-TPB is verified by recycling and leaching tests. The mechanochemical in situ encapsulation strategy disclosed herein paves a facile, rapid, scalable, and environmentally benign avenue to access metal/COF catalysts for efficient heterogeneous catalysis. 
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  2. Covalent organic framework (COF)-supported palladium catalysts have garnered enormous attention for cross-coupling reactions. However, the limited linkage types in COF hosts and their suboptimal catalytic performance have hindered their widespread implementation. Herein, we present the first study immobilizing palladium acetate onto a dioxin-linked COF (Pd/COF-318) through a facile solution impregnation approach. By virtue of its permanent porosity, accessible Pd sites arranged in periodic skeletons, and framework robustness, the resultant Pd/COF-318 exhibits exceptionally high activity and broad substrate scope for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction between aryl bromides and arylboronic acids at room temperature within an hour, rendering it among the most effective Pd/COF catalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions to date. Moreover, Pd/COF-318 demonstrates excellent recyclability, retaining high activity over five cycles without significant deactivation. The leaching test confirms the heterogeneity of the catalyst. This work uncovers the vast potential of dioxin-linked COFs as catalyst supports for highly active, selective, and durable organometallic catalysis. 
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  3. To address a long‐existing debate on what copper species are responsible for efficient CC coupling, especially ethanol formation, in electrochemical CO2reduction reaction, herein, a comprehensive study using Cu3N nanocubes with a uniform size and shape, alongside a single crystalline phase is reported. The Cu3N nanoensemble electrode has a remarkable Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 64% for ethanol production at a relatively low potential of −0.6 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Throughin‐operandoX‐ray absorption spectroscopy study, a dynamic phase evolution that directly correlates with changes in FE across varying applied potentials is observed. Notably, the nanoensemble with a composition of ≈71% Cu+and 29% Cu0is identified as being selective for ethanol formation at the low overpotential. Conversely, a predominantly metallic Cu phase formed at potentials more negative than −0.6 V favors the hydrogen evolution reaction. Density functional theory calculations at the Cu3N–Cu interface substantiate that the coexistence of Cu0–Cu+not only energetically favors the ethanol reaction pathway but also destabilizes the intermediates for ethylene pathway. 
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  4. Abstract Lithium‐ion and sodium‐ion batteries (LIBs and SIBs) are crucial in our shift toward sustainable technologies. In this work, the potential of layered boride materials (MoAlB and Mo2AlB2) as novel, high‐performance electrode materials for LIBs and SIBs, is explored. It is discovered that Mo2AlB2shows a higher specific capacity than MoAlB when used as an electrode material for LIBs, with a specific capacity of 593 mAh g−1achieved after 500 cycles at 200 mA g−1. It is also found that surface redox reactions are responsible for Li storage in Mo2AlB2, instead of intercalation or conversion. Moreover, the sodium hydroxide treatment of MoAlB leads to a porous morphology and higher specific capacities exceeding that of pristine MoAlB. When tested in SIBs, Mo2AlB2exhibits a specific capacity of 150 mAh g−1at 20 mA g−1. These findings suggest that layered borides have potential as electrode materials for both LIBs and SIBs, and highlight the importance of surface redox reactions in Li storage mechanisms. 
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  5. Abstract Flexible thermoelectric (TE) devices hold great promise for energy harvesting and cooling applications, with increasing significance to serve as perpetual power sources for flexible electronics and wearable devices. Despite unique and superior TE properties widely reported in nanocrystals, transforming these nanocrystals into flexible and functional forms remains a major challenge. Herein, demonstrated is a transformative 3D conformal aerosol jet printing and rapid photonic sintering process to print and sinter solution‐processed Bi2Te2.7Se0.3nanoplate inks onto virtually any flexible substrates. Within seconds of photonic sintering, the electrical conductivity of the printed film is dramatically improved from nonconductive to 2.7 × 104S m−1. The films demonstrate a room temperature power factor of 730 µW m−1K−2, which is among the highest values reported in flexible TE films. Additionally, the film shows negligible performance changes after 500 bending cycles. The highly scalable and low‐cost fabrication process paves the way for large‐scale manufacturing of flexible devices using a variety of high‐performing nanoparticle inks. 
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  6. Abstract Solution‐processable semiconducting 2D nanoplates and 1D nanorods are attractive building blocks for diverse technologies, including thermoelectrics, optoelectronics, and electronics. However, transforming colloidal nanoparticles into high‐performance and flexible devices remains a challenge. For example, flexible films prepared by solution‐processed semiconducting nanocrystals are typically plagued by poor thermoelectric and electrical transport properties. Here, a highly scalable 3D conformal additive printing approach to directly convert solution‐processed 2D nanoplates and 1D nanorods into high‐performing flexible devices is reported. The flexible films printed using Sb2Te3nanoplates and subsequently sintered at 400 °C demonstrate exceptional thermoelectric power factor of 1.5 mW m−1K−2over a wide temperature range (350–550 K). By synergistically combining Sb2Te32D nanoplates with Te 1D nanorods, the power factor of the flexible film reaches an unprecedented maximum value of 2.2 mW m−1K−2at 500 K, which is significantly higher than the best reported values for p‐type flexible thermoelectric films. A fully printed flexible generator device exhibits a competitive electrical power density of 7.65 mW cm−2with a reasonably small temperature difference of 60 K. The versatile printing method for directly transforming nanoscale building blocks into functional devices paves the way for developing not only flexible energy harvesters but also a broad range of flexible/wearable electronics and sensors. 
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  7. Abstract Printing is a versatile method to transform semiconducting nanoparticle inks into functional and flexible devices. In particular, thermoelectric nanoparticles are attractive building blocks to fabricate flexible devices for energy harvesting and cooling applications. However, the performance of printed devices are plagued by poor interfacial connections between nanoparticles and resulting low carrier mobility. While many rigid bulk materials have shown a thermoelectric figure of meritZTgreater than unity, it is an exacting challenge to develop flexible materials withZTnear unity. Here, a scalable screen‐printing method to fabricate high‐performance and flexible thermoelectric devices is reported. A tellurium‐based nanosolder approach is employed to bridge the interfaces between the BiSbTe particles during the postprinting sintering process. The printed BiSbTe flexible films demonstrate an ultrahigh room‐temperature power factor of 3 mW m−1K−2andZTabout 1, significantly higher than the best reported values for flexible films. A fully printed thermoelectric generator produces a high power density of 18.8 mW cm−2achievable with a small temperature gradient of 80 °C. This screen‐printing method, which directly transforms thermoelectric nanoparticles into high‐performance and flexible devices, presents a significant leap to make thermoelectrics a commercially viable technology for a broad range of energy harvesting and cooling applications. 
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