The National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST; Chinese: 国家纳米科学中心) of China is a government initiated research institute with an emphasis on nanoscience and nanotechnology..
Efficient triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) in chiral liquid crystal composites provides a promising platform for applications that require simultaneous energy conversion and control over luminescence polarization. However, the upconversion efficiency (ΦUC) in such systems is often severely limited by restricted exciton diffusion and back energy transfer processes. Here, a synergistic strategy is demonstrated to simultaneously enhance ΦUC and enable programmable polarized emissions by integrating a singlet energy sink into chiral photonic superstructures featuring dual photonic bandgaps (DPBGs). These superstructures are constructed via a facile co-assembly process followed by ultraviolet-induced photopolymerization. Precise control over the polymerization degree generates two distinct and independently tunable photonic bandgaps spanning the visible to near-infrared regions. Strategic alignment of the DPBGs with both upconversion and downshifting emission bands yields a 3.7-fold enhancement in ΦUC and a luminescence dissymmetry factor of up to 0.8. Notably, CPL-aware pattern recognition is achieved, in which a compact convolutional neural network extracts encoded glyphs from polarization contrast in thermoresponsive chiroptical matrices. This work advances the design of high-performance TTA-UC materials and establishes a versatile framework for chiral photonics, optical information processing, and next-generation photovoltaic technologies.
DNA molecules and their nanostructures possess extraordinary programmability that facilitates guiding the synthesis of nanomaterials and assembly of nanoparticles in a controlled manner. The resulting products have unique advantages in many innovative and promising applications. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on DNA-guided fabrication of inorganic nanomaterials. We will introduce the representative work using DNA molecule or DNA nanostructure as templates to guide the synthesis of nanomaterials and the assembly of nanoparticles. In addition, the optical and biological applications of inorganic nanomaterials fabricated by DNA in recent years will be discussed in the following part. Finally, we will provide our views on future challenges and prospects in this field in the conclusion section.
Solid additives, as an efficient approach of morphology control in organic solar cells (OSCs), remain not fully understand in terms of the influence of their intermolecular interactions with photoactive molecules on morphological evolution and ultimate device performance. Herein, the intermolecular interactions between solid additives and photoactive molecules were precisely tuned through molecular isomerization engineering. Three isomers of iodine-substituted 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene were adopted as the solid additives. The four strongly electronegative halogen atoms readily produce intense interactions with the photoactive materials, thereby enhancing their J-type stacking and broadening the absorption spectrum. Crucially, the iodine substituent position on the solid additives was altered, which improved their miscibility and intermolecular interactions with photoactive materials, forming a bicontinuous interpenetrating network. Consequently, the binary OSCs achieved an impressive fill factor of approximately 84% with an efficiency of nearly 21% (certified as 20.42%), ranking among the top OSC performances to date. Furthermore, the device demonstrated excellent storage stability, with an extrapolated T80 (maintaining 80% of its initial efficiency) exceeding 10 000 h.
Gas-sensing technologies facilitate the early detection and prediction of unforeseen future events by tracking surrounding invisible and instantaneous molecular information, which is critical for applications in agriculture, medicine, chemical process control, and environmental monitoring. Recent advancements in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are characterized by large surface areas, rich porosity, tunable pore sizes and geometries, and distinctive surface chemical properties, have paved the way for the development of next-generation gas sensors. The types and functions of MOFs in gas sensors have undergone significant advancements, particularly in terms of low operating temperatures, high sensitivity, and selectivity. However, a systematic analysis correlating the transduction mechanism and morphological structures of various MOF-based gas sensors is still lacking, in addition to a comprehensive summary of the most recent MOF-based gas sensors. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in MOF-based gas sensors, with a focus on their fabrication strategies, sensing mechanisms, and applications. Examples of MOF-based sensors include chemiresistive, field-effect transistor, Kelvin probe, capacitive, and optical gas sensors. Moreover, MOF-based gas sensors have been extensively investigated for applications in chiral recognition and flexible devices. Furthermore, we discuss the limitations of various MOF-based gas sensors developed to date and the corresponding solutions. Finally, we present our perspectives on the challenges and opportunities encountered in the advancement and practical applications of MOF-based gas sensors.
Biological nitrogen fixation through foliar application of nitrogen-fixing bacteria presents a promising route to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers but remains limited by challenges in bacterial adhesion and survival in the phyllosphere. We developed a nanocoated inoculant encapsulating Klebsiella variicola W12 using metal–phenolic networks and sodium alginate for enhanced nitrogen fixation under nitrogen-depleted conditions. The nanocoating improved bacterial resistance to UV radiation, oxidative stress, aerobic conditions and desiccation, enhancing adhesion and biofilm formation on leaf surfaces. Colonization increased 3.3-fold compared to non-coated bacteria at 14 days after application, improving epiphytic and endophytic persistence. The nanocoated bacteria contributed 27.89
