The development of solid-state fluorophores that respond to external stimuli has garnered significant attention. In this study, we designed and synthesized a thermally responsive TADF material, tBuCz2CN, using 3,6-di-tert-butyl-9H-carbazole as the donor and methylene malononitrile as the acceptor. The spin-coated neat film of tBuCz2CN displayed a thermochromic shift from yellow to green fluorescence upon heating, resembling its behavior in the powder state. Kinetic analysis revealed a low activation energy of 39.57 kJ mol(-1) for the transition. Additionally, tBuCz2CN neat film shows promise as a luminescent thermometer in the 323-353 K range, functioning as a wavelength- and intensity-dependent optical sensor. This work offers a strategy for designing thermally stimuli-responsive TADF materials.

The recombination of photogenerated carriers is the core bottleneck limiting the photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production. The S-scheme heterojunction can drive the directional migration of carriers through its built-in electric field, suppress recombination, and thereby enhance the charge utilization efficiency. In this study, one-dimensional Cd0.9Zn0.1S (CZS) nanorods were coupled with Ni0.85Se (NS) particles with photothermal effect, constructing an NS/CZS S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst. The nanorod shape of CZS shortens the electron transport path, thus shrinking the diffuse time to the surface and suppressing recombination of charges. The S-scheme heterojunction increases the spatial separation degree of photogenerated carriers, enabling high-energy electrons to accumulate in the conduction band of CZS to drive the hydrogen evolution. The photothermal effect of NS elevates the local surface temperature of NS/CZS particles, which reduces the reaction activation energy and accelerates the reaction kinetics. Under visible light, NS/CZS-5 with the optimal component achieves a hydrogen production rate of 325.02 mmol g-1 and exhibits excellent cyclic stability. Density functional theory calculations further reveal the interfacial charge transfer mechanism, providing a new paradigm for the synergistic enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen production through photothermal-heterojunction coupling.

Lead-free halide double perovskite up-conversion (UC) materials have attracted significant attention due to their unique photoelectric properties and eco-friendly features in the field of optoelectronics and energy research. However, their multimodal excitation mechanisms remain unclear, and research on these materials is still in early development. In this work, Er3+, Yb3+, Tb3+ tri-doped lead-free halide double perovskite Cs2NaScCl6 microcrystal (MCs) were synthesized via hydrothermal method. The crystal structure, morphology, and luminescent properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The optical characterization reveals that Er3+/Yb3+/Tb3+ co-doped Cs2NaScCl6 MCs exhibit green luminescence by dual-mode excitation. When excited by 280 nm ultraviolet (UV) light, the 5D4 -> 7F5 transition of Tb3+ dominates the characteristic down-conversion (DC) emission at 546 nm. Under the 980 nm near-infrared (NIR) excitation, the MCs emit intense up-conversion (UC) emission of Er3+ at 550 nm, generated by the 2H11/2 -> 4I15/2 and 4S3/2 -> 4F9/2 transition. By employing the luminescence intensity ratio between two thermally coupled energy levels of Er3+ (2H11/2 and 4S3/2), a maximum relative sensitivity of 1.201% K-1 was achieved at 303 K. Furthermore, utilizing the green luminescence characteristics under 280 nm/980 nm dual-mode excitation, a digital encoding programming was developed to successfully demonstrate multilevel information encryption/decryption. All results indicate the Cs2NaScCl6: Er3+, Yb3+, Tb3+ MCs have potential in various areas such as optical temperature sensing and anti-counterfeiting applications.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is regarded as an economically viable and environmentally benign strategy. However, the practical application of photocatalytic hydrogen production is constrained by the sluggish reaction kinetics and rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. Herein, a Cu3SnS4/Mn0.3Cd0.7S (CTS/MCS) S-scheme photocatalyst with photothermal effect was synthesized via an ultrasound-assisted self-assembly method and applied for the first time to photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The hydrogen production rate of CTS/MCS-5 reached 72.5 +/- 0.8 mmol/h g- 1 , representing a 3.44-fold increase relative to Mn0.3Cd0.7S, and the apparent quantum yield of CTS/MCS-5 reached 17.5 % at 450 nm. The photothermal effect induced by Cu3SnS4 can elevate the local surface temperature of the catalyst, providing a portion of the energy required for the reaction, thereby reducing the reaction barrier and further promoting photocatalytic reactions. This research highlights the significance of the S-scheme heterojunction and the photothermal effect as an effective strategy to enhance photocatalytic activity, offering new insights for the development of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution technology.

In this study, Bi3+ single doped and Bi3+/Eu3+ co-doped RbLaTa2O7 phosphors were synthesized via a conventional solid-state reaction method. The crystal structure, morphological features, luminescence properties, energy transfer mechanism, and thermal dependence were systematically characterized. The RbLaTa2O7:Bi3+ phosphor exhibits a symmetric broad emission band centered at 555 nm, attributed to the S-1(0)-> P-3(1) transition of Bi3+ ions. Upon co-doping with Eu3+ ions, distinct red emissions corresponding to the characteristic D-5(0) -> F-7(J) (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4) transitions of Eu3+ ions are observed. Tunable color emission can be achieved by adjusting either the excitation wavelength or the dopant concentration. An efficient energy transfer from Bi3+ to Eu3+ ions is confirmed through spectral analysis. Moreover, the thermal stability of Bi3+/Eu3+ co-doped RbLaTa2O7 phosphor was evaluated, yielding an activation energy of 0.39 eV under 466 nm excitation. The material demonstrates potential for optical thermometry in the temperature range from 303 to 443 K, achieving a maximum relative sensitivity of 2.90 %K-1. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent repeatability during thermal cycling, with a repeatability coefficient of 0.97.

Few-layer black phosphorus (BP) becomes an ideal self-assembled material with perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) for photoluminescence (PL) and photocatalysis, due to the feasible control of photogenerated charge carriers. Until now, it is still a challenge to figure out the intrinsic carrier dynamics for multifunctional photodegradation in water. In this work, a series of few-layer BP components were successfully incorporated into CsPbBr3 NCs to achieve apparent PL quenching and ˙O2--dominated photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B in aqueous solution. The strategy of BP modification can extend photoabsorption ensuring optimized photocatalytic activity by facilitating electron transfer from CsPbBr3 to BP with strong van der Waals interactions. In particular, CsPbBr3:5%BP NC eliminates the effect of sub-bandgap luminescence centers, resulting in a low charge transfer resistance, good carrier mobility, and high photocurrent densities under light irradiation.

Recent advances in inorganic negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials have highlighted their potential for multifunctional applications, yet challenges remain in optimizing their luminescent properties for practical use. Based on Y2W3O12:Tb3+/Eu3+ NTE ceramics, we present a thermally regulated optical encoding and encryption approach. Under 254 nm UV excitation, the distinctive high-temperature thermal enhancement effect of red emission and the thermal quenching phenomenon of green emission were discovered in these ceramics, enabling an effective temperature-controlled color change phenomenon. Optical information encoding and readout were realized through the synergistic modulation effect of UV light and heat, and the encryption and decoding process of multivariate codes and alphabets at high temperatures was accomplished. The encoding was accomplished by modulating the Tb3+/Eu3+ doping concentration ratio and regulating the luminescent color of the ceramics over a wide range. Furthermore, the ceramic demonstrates a wide temperature range of 363-603 K for temperature sensing effect. This offers a research idea for achieving multifunctional ceramics of coding and temperature sensing.

Herein, a Mn0.3Cd0.7S/CoPB (MCS/CPB) composite with an interfacial CoS bond is successfully fabricated via an ultrasonic-assisted grinding method, forming a Schottky junction. The optimized MCS/CPB-5 achieves a remarkable hydrogen evolution rate of 96.8 ± 0.4 mmol g-1 h-1 under visible light, which is 4.12 times greater than that of pristine MCS. The integration of CoPB enhances near-infrared light absorption and photothermal conversion, thereby promoting efficient charge carrier separation and utilization. The formation of the Schottky junction suppresses charge recombination by facilitating directional electron transfer across the interface. Characterizations including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations confirm the presence of CoS bonding and elucidated the charge transfer pathway. This study presents a promising strategy for designing non-noble metal-based photocatalysts with improved hydrogen evolution performance through synergistic photothermal and interfacial engineering.

Recent advances in inorganic negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials have highlighted their potential for multifunctional applications, yet challenges remain in optimizing their luminescent properties for practical use. Based on Y 2 W 3 O 12 :Tb 3+ /Eu 3+ NTE ceramics, we present a thermally regulated optical encoding and encryption approach. Under 254 nm UV excitation, the distinctive high‐temperature thermal enhancement effect of red emission and the thermal quenching phenomenon of green emission were discovered in these ceramics, enabling an effective temperature‐controlled color change phenomenon. Optical information encoding and readout were realized through the synergistic modulation effect of UV light and heat, and the encryption and decoding process of multivariate codes and alphabets at high temperatures was accomplished. The encoding was accomplished by modulating the Tb 3+ /Eu 3+ doping concentration ratio and regulating the luminescent color of the ceramics over a wide range. Furthermore, the ceramic demonstrates a wide temperature range of 363‒603 K for temperature sensing effect. This offers a research idea for achieving multifunctional ceramics of coding and temperature sensing.

Rare earth ion luminescent materials have attracted extensive attention due to their wide applications in biochemical sensing and bioimaging. However, the low quantum yield and weak luminescence intensity have restricted their further development. Realizing the modulation of rare-earth ions' emission behavior has become a hot topic in the interdisciplinary fields of materials and chemometrics. Herein, the regulation of the electron decay process and emission of photon signals of rare earth ion (Eu3+) has been achieved in a well-defined plasmonic nanocavity. This nanocavity consists of Ag shell-isolated nanoparticles (SHINs) and an ultraflat Au film, which are separated by a polymer dielectric spacer and CaF2:Eu3+ nanoparticles. Contrary to the intrinsic photoluminescence of CaF2:Eu3+, a factor of 408 increase in the spontaneous emission rate and simultaneously an 800-fold enhancement in the emission intensity have been realized in nanocavities via comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Additionally, the evolution law between the plasmon resonances and the luminescent enhancement as well as the emission spectrum of Eu3+ indicates a highly effective modulation of emission behavior by plasmons. This presents a novel strategy for enhancing the performance of optical micro- and nanodevices based on rare-earth ion materials, demonstrating significant potential in applications such as bioimaging and surface detection analysis.

Step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunctions offer significant potential for enhancing photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) by promoting charge separation while preserving high redox capabilities. Herein, theoretical calculations predict that constructing a ZnMoO4@ZnIn2S4 S-scheme (ZMO@ZIS) heterojunction significantly lowers the Gibbs free energy for H2 evolution compared to the individual monomers, indicating a thermodynamically and kinetically favored pathway. Guided by this prediction, we synthesized the ZMO@ZIS heterojunction by in situ anchoring ZnIn2S4 nanosheets onto ZnMoO4 hexagonal platform, with the expectation of achieving excellent photocatalytic H2 evolution performance. This unique trans-scale assembly strategy spontaneously organizes ZIS into a hierarchical porous network, markedly increasing the surface area and providing abundant accessible active sites and efficient mass transfer channels. Comprehensive experimental characterization combined with detailed theoretical simulation provides compelling evidence confirming the S-scheme electron transfer mechanism and establishment of an internal electric field, where high-potential electrons in ZIS and holes in ZMO are retained for PHE. Consequently, the ZMO@ZIS-13 S-scheme heterojunction achieves an exceptional visible-light PHE rate of 5.045 mmol g-1 h-1 under visible light, representing a 10.7-fold improvement compared to that of pure ZnIn2S4. This study demonstrates the efficacy of theory-guided design and trans-scale assembly for creating efficient S-scheme photocatalysts with optimized charge dynamics.

Rational design of photocatalysts with photothermal effect to maximize light utilization is pivotal in achieving superior photocatalytic efficiency. In this work, by coating Cd0.9Zn0.1S (CZS) nanorods on hollow FeNi2S4 (FNS) microspheres with photothermal effect, a novel FeNi2S4@Cd0.9Zn0.1S (FNS@CZS) Step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunction photocatalyst was constructed for efficient photothermal-assisted hydrogen (H2) evolution via simultaneously employing light and thermal energy. The hollow structure of FNS microsphere not only provides abundant reactive sites but also serves as a supportive substrate for CZS nanorods, effectively inhibiting their agglomeration. And the unique hollow structure of FNS allows for multiple reflections and refractions of visible light, enhancing the local temperature of the photocatalyst. This effectively minimizes thermal losses within the composite system, thereby enhancing the efficiency of light energy utilization. Furthermore, the formation of the S-scheme heterojunction facilitates the efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers and enhances the activity of redox reactions, thereby boosting the overall photocatalytic activity. Experimental results reveal that the H2 production rate of the FNS@CZS heterojunction reaches 12.9 mmol & sdot;g- 1 & sdot;h- 1, which is 25.1 times higher than that of pristine CZS. By controlling the experimental temperature, the impact of the photothermal effect on the photocatalytic H2 production rate has been clarified. According to relevant evidence from infrared thermography and DFT calculations, comprehensive analyses and discussions were conducted on the photothermal effect and S-scheme charge transfer mechanisms. This study offers guidance on designing photothermalenhanced photocatalysts to achieve satisfactory H2 production activity.

To effectively harness solar energy, the rational construction and development of full-spectrum photocatalysts has become an appealing challenge. In this study, a novel full-spectrum responsive FeS2/Mn0.3Cd0.7S 2 /Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S (FS/MCS) S-scheme photocatalyst was obtained by attaching FeS2 2 nanoparticles with excellent photothermal properties on Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S nanorods. The photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of the optimal FS/MCS composite was 52.017 mmol & sdot;g- & sdot; g- 1 & sdot;h-1 & sdot; h- 1 under full-spectrum irradiation, which was 3.88 times that of pure MCS. Based on the experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the enhanced photoactivity of FS/MCS was attributed to the synergetic effects of photothermal and S-scheme heterojunction. The photothermal effect of FeS2 2 could convert the near infrared light to heat, which elevated the local temperature of photocatalyst particles, thereby promoting the photocatalytic reaction. Meanwhile, the S-scheme heterojunction between FeS2 2 and Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S accelerated the charge transfer and suppressed the recombination of electron-hole pairs, thereby enabling efficient charge separation while maintaining high redox potentials. This work offers a novel perspective on constructing a full-spectrum-driven photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H2 2 evolution system though the dual effects of photothermal and heterojunction.

Broad-band near-infrared (NIR) phosphors have garnered increasing attention due to the versatile applications in spectroscopy technology fields, but the choice of efficient NIR phosphors remains a challenge. Here, Yb3+-activated cubic double-perovskite tungstate Ba0.5MgLaWO6 was synthesized using a solid-state reaction method. A broadband NIR emission (800–1150 nm) is observed from the 2F5/2→2F7/2 transition of Yb3+ activators in Ba0.5MgLaWO6 under the excitation by UV and near-UV light. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra, decay and emission lifetimes, concentration-dependent intensities, and low temperature luminescence of Yb3+-activated Ba0.5MgLaWO6 were investigated to study the energy transfer (ET) from isolated WO6 polyhedra to Yb3+ activators. The main luminous mechanism involves cooperative energy transfer (CET), wherein, one high-energy excitation photon absorbed by host WO6 group converts to two NIR photons emitted by Yb3+. The partial substitution of Mo6+ for W6+ in Ba0.5MgLaWO6 further leads to a significant increase of the intensity and lifetime of the NIR luminescence. This work provides a feasible strategy for developing a new Yb3+-doped perovskite tungstate, which demonstrates efficient wavelength down-conversion from UV and near-UV to NIR. This material could find versatile applications as an effective NIR luminescent candidate.

Step‐scheme (S‐scheme) heterojunctions offer significant potential for enhancing photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) by promoting charge separation while preserving high redox capabilities. Herein, theoretical calculations predict that constructing a ZnMoO 4 @ZnIn 2 S 4 S‐scheme (ZMO@ZIS) heterojunction significantly lowers the Gibbs free energy for H 2 evolution compared to the individual monomers, indicating a thermodynamically and kinetically favored pathway. Guided by this prediction, we synthesized the ZMO@ZIS heterojunction by in situ anchoring ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheets onto ZnMoO 4 hexagonal platform, with the expectation of achieving excellent photocatalytic H 2 evolution performance. This unique trans‐scale assembly strategy spontaneously organizes ZIS into a hierarchical porous network, markedly increasing the surface area and providing abundant accessible active sites and efficient mass transfer channels. Comprehensive experimental characterization combined with detailed theoretical simulation provides compelling evidence confirming the S‐scheme electron transfer mechanism and establishment of an internal electric field, where high‐potential electrons in ZIS and holes in ZMO are retained for PHE. Consequently, the ZMO@ZIS‐13 S‐scheme heterojunction achieves an exceptional visible‐light PHE rate of 5.045 mmol g −1 h −1 under visible light, representing a 10.7‐fold improvement compared to that of pure ZnIn 2 S 4 . This study demonstrates the efficacy of theory‐guided design and trans‐scale assembly for creating efficient S‐scheme photocatalysts with optimized charge dynamics.

The rational construction of heterojunction photocatalysts is an effective strategy to enhance the performance of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this work, a Cd0.9Zn0.1S(CZS)/nitrogen-doped carbon-coated Fe-Cu bimetallic (FC@CN) photocatalyst was prepared through the methods of mechanical grinding combined with calcination. The experimental data demonstrate that when the amount of FC@CN is 7 %, the optimal hydrogen evolution rate reaches 46.43 mmol g-1 h-1, which is 3.46-fold higher in comparison with CZS. This excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance is attributed to: (1) the N-doped graphitic carbon layer provides a fast channel for electron transfer; (2) the synergistic interaction between Fe and Cu and the formation of an ohmic junction between CZS and FC@CN can effectively promote photogenerated charge separation; (3) the CZS/FC@CN photocatalysts have excellent cycling stability and magnetic recyclability; (4) the photothermal effect can significantly increase the local temperature at the catalyst surface, thereby reducing the activation energy of the reaction. The synthesis of this material is expected to provide a feasible idea for the design and synthesis of bimetallic magnetic co-catalysts.

In the S-scheme heterojunction, photogenerated electrons from the oxidation photocatalyst recombine with holes from the reduction photocatalyst, enhancing redox potential and boosting photocatalytic activity. However, the recombination mechanism at these interfaces remains largely unexplored. In this study, we design a Cd0.9Zn0.1S/ ZnWO4 (CZS/ZWO) S-scheme heterojunction model guided by theoretical predictions. Remarkably, a nanotetrapod-shaped CZS/ZWO S-scheme heterojunction is synthesized via a simple solvothermal and ultrasonic self-assembly method, achieving hydrogen evolution performance under visible light irradiation for 3 h that 3.69 times higher than CZS alone and 4.63 times higher than ZWO alone. Further theoretical calculations simulate the charge transfer mechanism, electron density localization, and transition states in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. Finally, integrating theoretical and experimental data, an S-Zn channel is proposed within the CZS/ZWO S-scheme heterojunction, clarifying the electron transfer pathway. This study provides detailed understanding of charge transfer dynamics in S-scheme heterojunction.

Easily recyclable photocatalysts hold great potential in the field of photocatalysis. Guided by rational theoretical predictions, this study designs a novel tetrapod-like Cd0.9Zn0.1S/NiCoB (CZS/NCB) Schottky heterojunction with magnetic and photothermal properties, and demonstrates its excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance. Under the combined effects of the photothermal properties and the Schottky heterojunction, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate extraordinarily reaches 108.39 mmol g(-1) h(-1) after 3 h of visible light irradiation, which is 4.69 times that of pure CZS. Additionally, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution tests conducted using infrared thermography and alternating visible and visible plus infrared light irradiation have confirmed the material's outstanding photothermal properties. In-depth density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal potential charge transfer pathways and confirm the formation of the Schottky heterojunction. This work provides guidance for the rational construction of magnetic recoverable photocatalysts with practical application.

Near-infrared (NIR) light sources have found extensive applications in bioimaging of biological tissues, plant growth, disease diagnosis, and therapeutics. However, developing high-performance near-infrared emitting materials with broad spectral output remains challenging due to limitations in excitation compatibility, quantum efficiency, and material stability. In this study, [(Mo6I8)I6]2- (Mo6) cluster-doped (ETP)2SbCl5 0D metal halide glass through a low-temperature liquid quenching method is synthesized. X-ray diffraction results indicate that Mo6 cluster doping does not disrupt the amorphous structure of the glass. Optical properties show that broadband NIR emission is achieved under blue light excitation, with internal and external quantum efficiencies reaching 85% and 75%, respectively. Time-resolved spectroscopy and temperature-dependent photoluminescence analysis elucidate the energy transfer process and the mechanism of high internal quantum efficiency. The glass exhibits excellent resistance to singlet oxygen quenching in the solid state, and the Mo6-doped material also shows advantages in solution processing for optoelectronic device fabrication. Moreover, (ETP)2SbCl5:Mo6 glass demonstrates good NIR emission performance under various excitation modes and in different states. When packaged into NIR phosphor-converted light-emitting diode (pc-LED), it shows excellent spectral stability and outstanding practical application performance in bioimaging, night vision, non-destructive testing, and plant growth.

A unique lamellar WO3/AgI S-scheme heterojunction is constructed via integrated hydrothermal and coprecipitation methods. Optimized WO3/AgI composite shows significantly enhanced photocatalytic ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation under visible light irradiation, achieving a removal rate of 53.4 % within 3 h, which is about 7.63 and 1.56 times superior than those of pristine WO3 and AgI, respectively. The characterizations, experiment results and Density Functional Theoretical (DFT) calculation results confirm the enhanced light absorption, wellaligned straddling band structures and reasonable formation of S-scheme heterojunction with efficient photogenerated carriers transfer between WO3 and AgI. Moreover, center dot O-(2) over bar and h(+) are identified as the main active species, with center dot O-(2) over bar plays a dominant role in WO3/AgI during the photocatalytic degradation of CIP. This work elucidates a possible approach to develop photocatalysts with a high antibiotic removal efficiency through a higher reducing ability and stronger oxidizing ability of S-scheme heterojunction by reasonable structure configuration.