Transition metal-free nanostructures

We explore the chemistry of solids rich in p-block elements including B, C, N, P, and possibly some alkali metals. These compounds exhibit a large diversity of crystal structures and of properties, including superhardness and photocatalytic properties. The reactivity and the properties of these materials when they are designed at the nanoscale are still mostly uncharted.

  1. Transforming Nanocrystals into Superhard Boron Carbide Nanostructures, F. Igoa Saldaña, T. Gaudisson, S. Le Floch, B. Baptiste, L. Delbes, V. Malarewicz, O. Beyssac, K. Béneut, C. Coelho Diogo, C. Gervais, G. Rousse, K. Rasim, Y. Grin, A. Maître, Y. Le Godec*, D. Portehault*, ACS Nano,  18, 30473 (2024)
  2. A straightforward approach to high purity sodium silicide Na4Si4 , Y. Song, I. Gómez-Recio, R. Kumar, C. Coelho Diogo, S. Casale, I. Génois, D. Portehault*, Dalton Transactions, 50, 16703 (2021)
  3. Electron Precise Sodium Carbaboride Nanocrystals from Molten Salts: Single Sources to Boron Carbides, S. Delacroix, F. Igoa, Y. Song, Y. Le Godec, C. Coelho-Diogo, C.  Gervais, G. Rousse, D. Portehault*, Inorganic Chemistry, 60,  4252 (2021)
  4. Synthesis in Molten Salts and Characterization of Li6B18(Li2O)x Nanoparticles, S. Delacroix, Y. Le Godec, C. Coelho-diogo, C. Gervais, I. Génois, P. Le Griel, D. Portehault*, Inorganic Chemistry, 59, 20, 14983 (2020)
  5. High Pressure Melting Curve of Zintl Sodium Silicide Na4Si4 by In Situ Electrical Measurements, A. Courac, Y. Le Godec, C. Renero-Lecuna, H. Moutaabbid, R. Kumar, C. Coelho-Diogo, C. Gervais, D. Portehault, Inorganic Chemistry, 58, 10822 (2019)
  6. High and stable ionic conductivity in 2D nanofluidic ion channels between boron nitride layers, S. Qin, D. Liu, G. Wang, D. Portehault, C. J. Garvey, Y. Gogotsi, W. Lei, Y. Chen, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 139, 6314 (2017)
  7. Porous Boron Carbon Nitride Nanosheets as Efficient Metal-free Catalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Both Alkaline and Acidic Solutions, J. Wang, J. Hao, D. Liu, S. Qin, D. Portehault, Y. Li, Y. Chen, W. Lei, ACS Energy Letters, 306 (2017)
  8. High N-content holey few-layered graphene electrocatalysts: scalable solvent-less production, D. Liu, W. Lei, D. Portehault, S. Qin, Y. I. Chen, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 3, 1682 (2015)
  9. Large scale boron carbon nitride nanosheets with enhanced lithium storage capabilities, W. Lei, S. Qin, D. Liu, D. Portehault, Z. Liu, Y. Chen, Chemical Communications, 49, 352, (2013)
  10. Porous boron nitride nanosheets for effective water cleaning, W. Lei, D. Portehault, D. Liu, S. Qin, Y. Chen, Nature Communications, 4, 1777, (2013) Highlight in the Web magazine The Conversation
  11. Boron carbon nitride nanostructures from salt melts: tunable water-soluble phosphors, W. Lei, D. Portehault,* R. Dimova, M. Antonietti, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133, 7121, (2011)
  12. High surface area nanoporous boron carbon nitrides for hydrogen storage, D. Portehault,* C. Giordano, C. Gervais, I. Senkovska, S. Kaskel, C. Sanchez, M. Antonietti, Advanced Functional Materials, 20, 1827, (2010)