The stoichiometric reaction of bis-phenolate ligands with AlMe3 afforded zwitterionic aluminum complexes Al1-Al3, which were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The solid state structure of Al2 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which revealed a dinuclear feature. Two Al centers were bridged by two ligands and thus formed an unusual large 24-membered-ring metallacycle. In the presence of BnOH, Al1-Al3 were efficient for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone in a controlled manner, and the efficiency was affected by substituents on the ligands. The polymerizations exhibited a feature of immortal catalysis with an excess of BnOH.

N,N′-Bis(2,6-R-phenyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamides (L: R = Cl, L1; R = F, L2; R = H, L3; R = Me, L4; R = Et, L5; R = iPr, L6) were designed as neutral ligands, and the corresponding nickel complexes LNiBr2 (Ni1–Ni6) were synthesized as precatalysts for ethylene oligomerization. All new ligands were fully characterized by NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis, while the nickel complexes were examined using FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The coordination mode of the ligand with nickel in complexes Ni5 and Ni6 was tridentate (O^N^O), as established by single crystal X-ray diffractions. All the nickel complexes Ni1–Ni6 were tested for ethylene oligomerization with different alkylaluminum compounds as cocatalysts, and diethylaluminum chloride (Et2AlCl) was proved to be the most effective. Upon activation with Et2AlCl, all nickel complexes showed high catalytic activity (up to 7.55 × 105 g mol−1 (Ni) h−1 atm−1) with good selectivity for α-C4.

Green emitting Eu2+ doped (CaxSr1–x)6Si25.6Al6.4N41.6O4.4 phosphors with x value ranging from 0 to 0.1 were synthesized by the solid state reaction method under nitrogen atmosphere. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the phosphors with different Ca2+ concentrations indicated that pure sialon phases were obtained. Crystal structure of these sialon phases was estimated to be a commensurate composite network stacking by two different types of layers. Intense and tunable green emissions with a slight red shift from 515 to 520 nm were observed with varying Ca/Sr ratios. The emission intensity decreased gradually because of the increase of the crystal splitting effect. Thermal quenching properties of the phosphors with different Ca2+ saturation were also discussed. The thermal stability became worse as more Ca2+ ions substituted for Sr2+ ions according to a larger Stokes shift. The solid solution phosphors could be a promising candidate for white LEDs for their interesting photoluminescence properties when the thermal stability would be improved.Crystal structure of Sr6Si25.6Al6.4 N41.6O4.4 viewing along a axis

An ion exchange membrane (IEM) usually serves as a separator between the two half-cells and provides an ionic conduction path in redox flow batteries. The new vanadium solid-salt battery (VSSB) presents higher energy density than the traditional vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). However, present IEMs are based on very expensive Nafion® membranes. In pursuit of lower cost, a membrane from sulfonated polystyrene (PE-01) is used for VSSB. In comparison with the traditional Nafion® 1135, PE-01 shows high energy efficiency with good cycling performance at current densities less than 10 mA cm−2. This suggests that sulfonated polystyrene membrane is a promising candidate as separator for VSSB.

Oxynitride phosphors Sr6Si25.6−xAl6.4+xN41.6−xO4.4+x:Eu2+ are synthesized by gas pressure sintering of powder mixture of SrCO3, AlN, Si3N4 and Eu2O3 at 1800 °C and 0.5 MPa of N2 for 10 h, and their photoluminescence properties are investigated. Sr6Si25.6−xAl6.4+xN41.6−xO4.4+x:Eu2+ can be efficiently excited over a broad spectral range between 300 and 500 nm, and exhibit an intense green emission centered at about 515 nm with a full width at half maximum of 65 nm due to the 4f65d1–4f7 transition of Eu2+ ions. The influence of the replacement of Si–N by Al–O on luminescence properties and crystal structure is reported in a series of Sr6Si25.6−xAl6.4+xN41.6−xO4.4+x:Eu2+ phosphors. Different Sr sites are found in the crystal structure. The thermal quenching properties of the green phosphors are better than that of typical orthosilicate Ba2SiO4:Eu2+ phosphor. Their interesting photoluminescence properties indicate that the Sr6Si25.6Al6.4N41.6O4.4 phosphor is a promising green emitting candidate for white LEDs applications.