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We address the issue of the low electrical conductivity observed in carbon nanotube networks using first-principles calculations of the structure, stability, and ballistic transport of different nanotube junctions. We first study covalent linkers, using the nitrene-pyrazine case as a model for conductance-preserving [2 + 1] cycloadditions, and discuss the reasons for their poor performance. We then characterize the role of transition-metal adsorbates in improving mechanical coupling and electrical tunneling between the tubes. We show that the strong hybridization between the transition-metal d orbitals with the π orbitals of the nanotube can provide an excellent electrical bridge for nanotube-nanotube junctions. This effect is maximized in the case of nitrogen-doped nanotubes, thanks to the strong mechanical coupling between the tubes mediated by a single transition metal adatom. Our results suggest effective strategies to optimize the performance of carbon nanotube networks.

Cadmium selenide is a II−VI semiconductor model system known for its nanoparticle preparation, growth mechanism, luminescence properties, and quantum confinement studies. For the past 2 decades, various thermodynamically stable "magic-size nanoclusters (MSCs)" of CdSe have been observed, isolated, and theoretically calculated. Nevertheless, none of the proposed structures were experimentally confirmed due to the small crystal domains beyond the diffraction limit. With a combination of nondestructive SAXS, WAXS, XRD, XPS, EXAFS, and MAS NMR techniques, we were able to verify the phase transformation, shape, size dimension, local bonding, and chemical environments of (CdSe) 13 nanoclusters, which are indicative of a paired cluster model. These experimental results are consistent with the size, shape, bond lengths, dipole moment, and charge densities of the proposed "paired-tubular geometry" predicted by computational approaches. In this article, we revisit the formation pathway of the mysterious (CdSe) 13 nanoclusters and propose a paired cluster structure model for better understanding of II−VI semiconductor nanoclusters.

Alkali metal sulfur redox chemistry offers promising potential for high-energy-density energy storage. Fundamental understanding of alkali metal sulfur redox reactions is the prerequisite for rational designs of electrode and electrolyte. Here, we revealed a strong impact of alkali metal cation (Li, Na, K, and Rb) on polysulfide (PS) stability, redox reversibility, and solid product passivation. We employed operando UV-vis spectroscopy to show that strongly negatively charged short-chain PS (e.g., S/S) is more stabilized in the electrolyte with larger cation (e.g., Rb) than that with the smaller cation (e.g., Li), which is attributed to a stronger cation-anion electrostatic interaction between Rb and S/S owing to its weaker solvation energy. In contrast, Li is much more strongly solvated by solvent and thus exhibits a weaker electrostatic interaction with S/S. The stabilization of short-chain PS in K-, Rb-sulfur cells promotes the reduction of long-chain PS to short-chain PS, leading to high discharge potential. However, it discourages the oxidation of short-chain PS to long-chain PS, leading to poor charge reversibility. Our work directly probes alkali metal-sulfur redox chemistry in operando and provides critical insights into alkali metal sulfur reaction mechanism.

We report here, for the first time, the experimental observation on the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction of the thiol proton in room-temperature solution. This phenomenon is demonstrated by a derivative of 3-thiolflavone (3TF), namely, 2-(4-(diethylamino)phenyl)-3mercapto-4H-chromen-4-one (3NTF), which possesses an SH•••O intramolecular H-bond (denoted by the dashed line) and has an S 1 absorption at 383 nm. Upon photoexcitation, 3NTF exhibits a distinctly red emission maximized at 710 nm in cyclohexane with an anomalously large Stokes shift of 12 230 cm −1 . Upon methylation on the thiol group, 3MeNTF, lacking the thiol proton, exhibits a normal Stokes-shifted emission at 472 nm. These, in combination with the computational approaches, lead to the conclusion of thiol-type ESIPT unambiguously. Further time-resolved study renders an unresolvable (<180 fs) ESIPT rate for 3NTF, followed by a tautomer emission lifetime of 120 ps. In sharp contrast to 3NTF, both 3TF and 3-mercapto-2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4Hchromen-4-one (3FTF) are non-emissive. Detailed computational approaches indicate that all studied thiols undergo thermally favorable ESIPT. However, once forming the proton-transferred tautomer, the lone-pair electrons on the sulfur atom brings nonnegligible nπ* contribution to the S 1 ′ state (prime indicates the proton-transferred tautomer), for which the relaxation is dominated by the non-radiative deactivation. For 3NTF, the extension of π-electron delocalization by the diethylamino electron-donating group endows the S 1 ′ state primarily in the ππ* configuration, exhibiting the prominent tautomer emission. The results open a new chapter in the field of ESIPT, covering the non-canonical sulfur intramolecular H-bond and its associated ESIPT at ambient temperature.