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The high critical superconducting temperatures (T_cs) of metal hydride phases with clathrate‐like hydrogen networks have generated great interest. Herein, we employ the Density Functional Theory‐Chemical Pressure (DFT‐CP) method to explain why certain electropositive elements adopt these structure types, whereas others distort the hydrogenic lattice, thereby decreasing theT_c. The progressive opening of the H₂₄polyhedra in MH₆phases is shown to arise from internal pressures exerted by large metal atoms, some of which may favor an even higher hydrogen content that loosens the metal atom coordination environments. The stability of the LaH₁₀and LaBH₈phases is tied to stuffing of their shared hydrogen network with either additional hydrogen or boron atoms. The predictive capabilities of DFT‐CP are finally applied to the Y−X−H system to identify possible ternary additions yielding a superconducting phase stable to low pressures.

 

Tetrahydrides crystallizing in the ThCr₂Si₂structure type have been predicted to become stable for a plethora of metals under pressure, and some have recently been synthesized. Through detailed first‐principles investigations we show that the metal atoms within thesesymmetry MH₄compounds may be divalent, trivalent or tetravalent. The valence of the metal atom and its radius govern the bonding and electronic structure of these phases, and their evolution under pressure. The factors important for enhancing superconductivity include a large number of hydrogenic states at the Fermi level, and the presence of quasi‐molecular Hunits whose bonds have been stretched and weakened (but not broken) via electron transfer from the electropositive metal, and via a Kubas‐like interaction with the metal. Analysis of the microscopic mechanism of superconductivity in MgH₄, ScH₄and ZrH₄reveals that phonon modes involving a coupled libration and stretch of the Hunits leading to the formation of more complex hydrogenic motifs are important contributors towards the electron phonon coupling mechanism. In the divalent hydride MgH₄, modes associated with motions of the hydridic hydrogen atoms are also key contributors, and soften substantially at lower pressures.

 

The silver‐fluorine phase diagram has been scrutinized as a function of external pressure using theoretical methods. Our results indicate that two novel stoichiometries containing Ag⁺and Ag²⁺cations (Ag₃F₄and Ag₂F₃) are thermodynamically stable at ambient and low pressure. Both are computed to be magnetic semiconductors under ambient pressure conditions. For Ag₂F₅, containing both Ag²⁺and Ag³⁺, we find that strong 1D antiferromagnetic coupling is retained throughout the pressure‐induced phase transition sequence up to 65 GPa. Our calculations show that throughout the entire pressure range of their stability the mixed‐valence fluorides preserve a finite band gap at the Fermi level. We also confirm the possibility of synthesizing AgF₄as a paramagnetic compound at high pressure. Our results indicate that this compound is metallic in its thermodynamic stability region. Finally, we present general considerations on the thermodynamic stability of mixed‐valence compounds of silver at high pressure.

 

The competing and non‐equilibrium phase transitions, involving dynamic tunability of cooperative electronic and magnetic states in strongly correlated materials, show great promise in quantum sensing and information technology. To date, the stabilization of transient states is still in the preliminary stage, particularly with respect to molecular electronic solids. Here, a dynamic and cooperative phase in potassium‐7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane (K‐TCNQ) with the control of pulsed electromagnetic excitation is demonstrated. Simultaneous dynamic and coherent lattice perturbation with 8 ns pulsed laser (532 nm, 15 MW cm⁻², 10 Hz) in such a molecular electronic crystal initiates a stable long‐lived (over 400 days) conducting paramagnetic state (≈42 Ωcm), showing the charge–spin bistability over a broad temperature range from 2 to 360 K. Comprehensive noise spectroscopy, in situ high‐pressure measurements, electron spin resonance (ESR), theoretical model, and scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) studies provide further evidence that such a transition is cooperative, requiring a dedicated charge–spin–lattice decoupling to activate and subsequently stabilize nonequilibrium phase. The cooperativity triggered by ultrahigh‐strain‐rate (above 10⁶s⁻¹) pulsed excitation offers a collective control toward the generation and stabilization of strongly correlated electronic and magnetic orders in molecular electronic solids and offers unique electro‐magnetic phases with technological promises.

 

Catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic compounds is an important industrial process, particularly for the production of many petrochemical and pharmaceutical derivatives. This reaction is mainly catalyzed by noble metals, but rarely by metal oxides. Here, we report the development of monoclinic hydrogen-bearing ruthenium dioxide with a nominal composition of H x RuO 2 that can serve as a standalone catalyst for various hydrogenation reactions. The hydrogen-bearing oxide was synthesized through the water gas shift reaction of CO and H 2 O in the presence of rutile RuO 2 . The structure of H x RuO 2 was determined by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and density functional theory (DFT) studies. Solid-state 1 H NMR and Raman studies suggest that this compound possesses two types of isolated interstitial protons. H x RuO 2 is very active in hydrogenation of various arenes, including liquid organic hydrogen carriers, which are completely converted to the corresponding fully hydrogenated products under relatively mild conditions. In addition, high selectivities (>99%) were observed for the catalytic hydrogenation of functionalized nitroarenes to corresponding anilines. DFT simulations yield a small barrier for concerted proton transfer. The facile proton dynamics may be key in enabling selective hydrogenation reactions at relatively low temperature. Our findings inspire the search for hydrogen-containing metal oxides that could be employed as high-performance materials for catalysts, electrocatalysts, and fuel cells.