To investigate the influence of the electron donating ability of the sensitization ligand on the photoluminescence properties in Sm(III) and Ce(III) complexes, a group of complexes [Sm(NO3)3(4,4 '-dmbpy)2] (1) and [Ce (NO3)3(4,4 '-dmbpy)2] (2) (4,4 '-dmbpy = 4,4 '-dimethyl-2,2 '-bipyridine) were synthesized and fully characterized. Comparing the photoluminescence properties of complexes 1 and [Sm(NO3)3(bpy)2] or 2 and [Ce(NO3)3(bpy)2], the experimental results show that for Sm(III) complexes, decreasing the electron donating ability of the sensitization ligand leads to an increase in the maximum emission band intensity and fluorescence lifetime; for Ce(III) complexes, weakening the electron donating ability of the sensitization ligand results in a decrease in the maximum emission band intensity and fluorescence lifetime.

All-optical deep neural networks offer significant improvements in processing speed and energy efficiency compared with traditional electronic systems. However, achieving broadband all-optical signal transmission with ultrafast processing speed in conventional photonic waveguides remains challenging. In this work, we present an integrated photonic circuit incorporating vertically grown molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), which is also compatible with wafer-scale manufacturing. By leveraging the saturable absorption properties of MoS2, this platform enables all-optical nonlinear activation over both the telecommunication O-band and C-band, with response speeds as fast as ~ 10 ps. This broadband operability enables flexible deployment as an optical activation function for neural network inference. Using a standardized evaluation framework, we benchmarked task-level performance against mainstream digital activation functions across diverse network architectures and quantization settings. These findings highlight the potential of van der Waals materials like MoS₂ for enabling in-situ nonlinearity in all-optical neural network hardware, advancing the development of scalable photonic computing systems.

The limited exciton lifetime (τ, generally <1 ns) leads to short exciton diffusion length (LD ) of organic semiconductors, which is the bottleneck issue impeding the further improvement of power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) for organic solar cells (OSCs). However, efficient strategies to prolong intrinsic τ are rare and vague. Herein, we propose a facile method to efficiently reduce vibrational frequency of molecular skeleton and suppress exciton-vibration coupling to decrease non-radiative decay rate and thus prolong τ via deuterating nonfullerene acceptors. The τ remarkably increases from 0.90 ns (non-deuterated L8-BO) to 1.35 ns (deuterated L8-BO-D), which is the record for organic photovoltaic materials. Besides, the inhibited molecular vibration improves molecular planarity of L8-BO-D for enhanced exciton diffusion coefficient. Consequently, the LD increases from 7.9 nm (L8-BO) to 10.7 nm (L8-BO-D). The prolonged LD of L8-BO-D enables PM6 : L8-BO-D-based bulk heterojunction OSCs to acquire higher PCEs of 18.5 % with more efficient exciton dissociation and weaker charge carrier recombination than PM6 : L8-BO-based counterparts. Moreover, benefiting from the prolonged LD , D18/L8-BO-D-based pseudo-planar heterojunction OSCs achieve an impressive PCE of 19.3 %, which is among the highest values. This work provides an efficient strategy to increase the τ and thus LD of organic semiconductors, boosting PCEs of OSCs.

A solid additive, SA-5F, is employed to promote molecular stacking, which leads to higher crystallinity, boosting the exciton diffusion coefficient and then exciton diffusion length. Thus, D18/Y6+-based PPHJ OSCs afford an impressive PCE of 19.11%.

The grain boundary (GB) microstructure influences and is influenced by the development of residual stresses during synthesis of polycrystalline thin films. Recent studies have shown that the frustration between the preferred growth direction and rotations of abutting crystals to local cusps in GB energies leads to internal stresses localized within nanoscopic surface layers around the valleys and ridges that form at emergent boundaries (eGBs). Using a combination of continuum frameworks, numerical analyses and all-atom simulations of bicrystal $\langle 111\rangle$ copper films, we show that eGBs tune their surface morphology and rotation extent in response to external strains. Compression favors rotation to and growth of low energy GB phases (complexions) at eGB valleys while tension favors the transitions at eGB ridges, a reflection of the stress-induced mass efflux/influx that changes the energetic balance between interfacial and deformation energies. Molecular dynamics simulations of strained and growing bicrystal films reveal that the eGB phase transition is coupled to island formation at the surface triple junctions, providing a direct link between eGB phases and surface step flow. The interplay between eGB structure, morphology and mechanics emerges as a crucial ingredient for predictive understanding of stress and morphological evolution during film growth, with broad implications for multifunctional response of polycrystalline surfaces in a diverse range of surface phenomena such as surface mediated deformation, interfacial embrittlement, thermal grooving, stress corrosion, surface catalysis and topological conduction.

The direct arylation polycondensation (DArP) has become one of the most important methods to construct conjugated polymers (CPs). However, the homocoupling side-reactions of aryl halides and the low regioseletive reactivities of unfunctionalized aryls hinder the development of DArP. Here, an efficient Pd and Cu co-catalyzed DArP was developed via inert C-S bond cleavage of aryl thioethers, of which robustness was exemplified by over twenty conjugated polymers (CPs), including copolymers, homopolymers, and random polymers. The capture of oxidative addition intermediate together with experimental and theoretic results suggested the important role of palladium (Pd) and copper (Cu) co-catalysis with a bicyclic mechanism. The studies of NMR, molecular weights, trap densities, two-dimensional grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (2D-GIWAXS), and the charge transport mobilities revealed that the homocoupling reactions were significantly suppressed with high regioselectivity of unfunctionalized aryls, suggesting this method is an excellent choice for synthesizing high performance CPs.

By employing thiazole and 4-chlorothiazole as the A′ units, two A-D-A′-D-A type nonfused-ring electron acceptors (NFREAs) Tz-H and Tz-Cl were designed and synthesized. Replacing thiazole in Tz-H with 4-chlorothiazole can not only remarkably shorten the synthetic route through C-H direct arylation but also enhance molecular planarity with the simultaneous incorporation of S···N and S···Cl non-covalently conformational locks (NoCLs). The photovoltaic devices based on PM6: Tz-Cl exhibited a power conversion efficiency as high as 11.10%, much higher than that of PM6: Tz-H (6.41%), mainly due to more efficient exciton dissociation, better and more balanced carrier mobility, less charge recombination, and more favorable morphology. These findings demonstrate the great potential of NoCLs in achieving low-cost and high-performance NFREAs.

Dimeric fused-ring electron acceptors (DFREAs) have attracted much attention due to the combined advantages of their monomeric and polymeric acceptors, including a well-defined molecular structure, excellent repeatability, and stable morphology. However, the additionally introduced single-bonds during dimerization may result in a twisted backbone of DFREAs, which is detrimental to intermolecular packing and charge transport. Herein, three DFREAs are designed and synthesized, in which DFREA conformations were systematically tuned via adjusting the intensities of intramolecular noncovalent interactions (INIs) to achieve high-performance organic solar cells (OSCs). Theoretical and experimental results show that the gradual introduction of SF INIs can continuously improve molecular planarity and rigidity, resulting in reduced reorganization energies, ordered packing mode, and enhanced crystallization of DFREAs. Benefiting from the incorporation of fourfold SF INIs, DYF-TF-based binary OSCs show a record high efficiency of 18.26% with an extremely low energy loss (0.493 eV) for DFREA-based OSCs. In addition, DYF-TF-based OSCs exhibited good long-term stability with a T-80% lifetime of 2681 h, and the power conversion efficiency of the DYF-TF-based ternary device is further enhanced to 18.73%. This contribution demonstrates the great potential of the INIs strategy in achieving excellent DFREAs materials.

Graphene film has drawn great attention in flexible supercapacitors for its large specific surface area and high conductivity, but the trade-off between capacitance (positively correlated with structural defects) and electrical conductivity (negatively correlated with structural defects) still hinder its application. Herein, a graphene-based composite film is fabricated by cooperating graphene oxide with highly conductive graphene flakes. With the combined effect, graphene flakes endow the composite films with high electrical conductivity, while graphene oxide provides extra pseudocapacitance. The composite film shows a high specific capacitance of 191.1 F g-1, which is far beyond that of pure graphene film (6.7 F g-1). The assembled flexible supercapacitor shows no capacitance decline when bent at different angles, and the capacitance retention of the supercapacitor keeps at 55.8% after 4500 bending-releasing cycles (0-180 degrees). The excellent mechanical and electrochemical performance of reduced graphene oxide/graphene composite film makes it a promising candidate in flexible supercapacitors.

In recent years, intramolecular noncovalent interaction has become an important means to modulate the optoelectronic performances of organic/polymeric semiconductors. However, it lacks a deep understanding and a direct quantitative relationship among the molecular geometric structure, strength of noncovalent interaction, and optoelectronic properties in organic/polymeric semiconductors. Herein, upon systematical theoretical calculations on 56 molecules with and without noncovalent interactions (X···Y, X = O, S, Se, Te; Y = C, F, O, S, Cl), we reveal the essence of the interactions and the dependence of its strength on the molecular geometry. Importantly, a descriptor S is established as a function of several basic geometric parameters to well characterize the noncovalent interaction energy, which exhibits a good inverse correlation with the reorganization energies of the photo-excited states or electron-pumped charged states in organic/polymeric semiconductors. In particular, the experimental 1 H, 77 Se, and 125 Te NMR, the optical absorption and emission spectra, and single crystal structures of eight compounds fully confirm the theoretical predictions. This work provides a simple descriptor to characterize the strength of noncovalent intramolecular interactions, which is significant for molecular design and property prediction.

A retina-inspired photonic synaptic device based on a novel conjugated polymer and fullerene derivatives with selective response to SWIR light is reported by Hui Huang et al. in their Research Article (e202213733). The devices demonstrate superior synaptic characteristics with noise reduction functions, thus paving the way for the development of organic electronics.

The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling is one of the most important and powerful methods for constructing C-C bonds. However, the protodeboronation of arylboronic acids hinder the development of Suzuki-Miyaura coupling in the precise synthesis of conjugated polymers (CPs). Here, an anhydrous room temperature Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction between (hetero)aryl boronic esters and aryl sulfides was explored, of which universality was exemplified by thirty small molecules and twelve CPs. Meanwhile, the mechanistic studies involving with capturing four coordinated borate intermediate revealed the direct transmetalation of boronic esters in the absence of H2O suppressing the protodeboronation. Additionally, the room temperature reaction significantly reduced the homocoupling defects and enhanced the optoelectronic properties of the CPs. In all, this work provides a green protocol to synthesize alternating CPs.

Biohybrid nanofibrils enable the synergetic and persistent harvesting of electricity and potable water from ambient moisture.

Photonic synapses with the dual function of optical signal detection and information processing can simulate human visual system. However, photonic synapses with selective detection of short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) light have never been reported, which can not only broaden the human vision region but also integrate neuromorphic computation and infrared optical communication. Here, organic photonic synapses based on a new donor-acceptor copolymer P1 are fabricated, which exhibit excellent synaptic characteristics with selective detection for SWIR and extremely low energy consumption (2.85 fJ). The working mechanism is rooted in energy level barriers and unbalanced charge transportation. Moreover, these photonic synapses demonstrate excellent performance in multi-signal logic editing, letter imaging and memory with noise reduction function. This contribution provides ideas of constructing selective-response synapses for artificial visual system and neuromorphic computing.

Volatile solid additives (SADs) are considered as a simple yet effective approach to tune the film morphology for high-performance organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the structural effects of the SADs on the photovoltaic performance are still elusive. Herein, two volatilizable SADs were designed and synthesized. One is SAD1 with twisted conformation, while the other one is planar SAD2 with the S···O noncovalent intramolecular interactions (NIIs). The theoretical and experimental results revealed that the planar SAD2 with smaller space occupation can more easily insert between the Y6 molecules, which is beneficial to form a tighter intermolecular packing mode of Y6 after thermal treatment. As a result, the SAD2-treated OSCs exhibited less recombination loss, more balanced charge mobility, higher hole transfer rate, and more favorable morphology, resulting in a record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.85% (certified PCE: 18.7%) for single-junction binary OSCs. The universality of this study shed light on understanding the conformation effects of SADs on photovoltaic performances of OSCs.

Graphene films have been extensively applied in supercapacitors owing to their high electrical conductivity and good mechanical strength; however, their application in stretchable supercapacitors is still hampered by their low elastic deformation ability. Herein, hybridizing graphene with the hydrogel of a conductive polymer (PEDOT:PSS) endows graphene films with substantially improved ductility. The resultant graphene-conductive polymer hydrogel composite film (GCPH) can be stretched to as long as 114.6% of its original length. Meanwhile, it possesses a much higher specific capacitance (28.52 F g(-1)) than that of the pure graphene film, as the PEDOT:PSS hydrogel prevents graphene from restacking. A proof-of-concept all-gel-state planar supercapacitor based on GCPH film electrodes is fabricated, which exhibits excellent electrochemical performance under a stretching state. The device shows no significant capacitance decline even when it is stretched to 220% of its original length (20% more than the pre-strain limit), and it maintains 98.23% of its initial capacitance after repeated stretching-releasing cycles.

Rapid and high-efficiency exfoliation of cellulose nanofibrils for capturing uranium ions with high capacity in a continuous filtration flow.

The rise of miniaturized, flexible and self-powered electronic systems has substantially stimulated the urgent demand for microscale electrochemical energy storage devices. Impressively, planar micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) are playing a crucial role because of fast ion transmission, ultra-long lifetime, and being easily integrated with microelectronic devices. Unfortunately, the robustness of film electrodes in MSCs usually cannot satisfy the structural stability of the film electrodes and the durability of the devices. Here, a novel strategy to address the problem is proposed by introducing graphene nanoscrolls with high aspect ratio as the active materials in the flexible MSCs to enhance the robustness of the film electrode because of their intertwined one-dimensional nanostructures. The as-prepared bendable MSC can maintain nearly 100% of initial capacitance when bent for 1000 cycles, and the stretchable MSC can maintain 88% of initial capacitance when stretched at a high stress ratio of 100% for 1000 cycles. This study provides an effective strategy to build up robust film electrodes for MSCs and improve the durability of the flexible MSCs.

Protein nanostructures in living organisms have attracted intense interests in biology and material science owing to their intriguing abilities to harness ion transportation for matter/signal transduction and bioelectricity generation. Silk nanofibrils, serving as the fundamental building blocks for silk, not only have the advantages of natural abundance, low cost, biocompatibility, sustainability, and degradability but also play a key role in mechanical toughness and biological functions of silk fibers. Herein, cationic silk nanofibrils (SilkNFs), with an ultrathin thickness of ∼4 nm and a high aspect ratio up to 500, were successfully exfoliated from natural cocoon fibers via quaternization followed by mechanical homogenization. Being positively charged in a wide pH range of 2-12, these cationic SilkNFs could combine with different types of negatively charged biological nanofibrils to produce asymmetric ionic membranes and aerogels that have the ability to tune ion translocation. The asymmetric ionic aerogels could create an electric potential as high as 120 mV in humid ambient air, whereas asymmetric ionic membranes could be used in ionic rectification with a rectification ratio of 5.2. Therefore, this green exfoliation of cationic SilkNFs may provide a biological platform of nanomaterials for applications as diverse as ion electronics, renewable energy, and sustainable nanotechnology.