Four coumarin-based molecular probes were synthesized via the reaction of phenylhydrazine and coumarin derivatives. Their binding properties toward various anions (F-, Cl-, Br-, I-, SO32-, H2PO4-, CH3COO-, HS-) and cations (Li+, Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, K+, Mn2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Cd2+) were systematically investigated using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The results demonstrated that the probes exhibited high selectivity, sensitivity and specificity for Cu2+, Co2+, Fe3+ with distinct colorimetric changes upon host-guest interaction, enabling visual detection. These findings establish a promising approach for trace ion sensing. Theoretical studies revealed that the observed red shifts in the UV-Vis spectra originated from electron transitions involving the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays confirmed the probes' biocompatibility, suggesting their potential for intracellular ion detection in living cells.

The scarcity of antibiotic alternatives has posed a serious threat of the global spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Achieving a delicate balance between antibacterial activity and anti-inflammatory efficacy within infected tissues is crucial for promoting efficient wound healing. Herein, a novel near-infrared (NIR)-responsive nanomaterial (BSMC NPs) is fabricated via the in-situ growth of mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) on the surface of Bi2S3, followed by the loading of curcumin (Cur) into the mesopores and onto the surface through it-it stacking interactions. This organic-inorganic hybrid system exhibits excellent photothermal conversion efficiency as well as prominent antioxidant capacity. Upon NIR light irradiation, the photothermal effect triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by both Bi2S3 and MPDA, thereby enabling efficient bacterial eradication. Conversely, in the absence of light stimulation, the inherent antioxidant properties of MPDA and Cur allow for the rapid scavenging of excessive ROS, thus exerting potent anti-inflammatory effects. The pH- and NIR-dual responsive release profile of Cur has been experimentally verified. Antibacterial assays reveal that BSMC NPs achieve inhibition rates of 98.5 % against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and 92.4 % against Escherichia coli (E. coli) under 808 nm laser irradiation. The underlying antibacterial mechanism is attributed to the increased permeability of bacterial membranes and leakage of intracellular contents, which are induced by localized hyperthermia and ROS burst. Collectively, this work provides novel insights into the rational design of multifunctional biomaterials integrating antioxidant, antibacterial, and photothermal therapeutic functionalities.

To develop a safe, efficient, water-soluble, and targeted antibacterial substance for medical applications, we synthesized carbon dots using citric acid and urea as precursors by a solvothermal method. We then coupled the carbon dots and lysozyme by using a simple 1-ethyl-3-(3'-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide-N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC-NHS) coupling method. After coupling, the carbon dots exhibited improved water dispersibility with particle sizes ranging from 12 to 20 nm. Notably, the highest carbon dot concentration associated with cytotoxicity increased from 2.5 to 5 mg/mL when coupled with lysozyme, implying that coupling could enhance the biocompatibility of carbon nanodots. Furthermore, coupled carbon dots extended the effective inhibition time against Streptococcus mutans from 12 to 36 h, compared to carbon dots alone. The improved biocompatibility and prolonged effective antibacterial duration highlight the potential of lysozyme-coupled carbon dots as a safe, efficient, and water-soluble antibacterial agent for a variety of oral healthcare and medical applications.

Currently, the primary method for manufacturing white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) involves pairing blue-emitting InGaN LED chips with a yellow-emitting phosphor coating or complementary green and red phosphors. However, the light spectrum from these WLEDs typically features a "blue overshoot" (within 440 - 460 nm, posing potential health hazards to the retina) and a "cyan gap" (spanning 470 - 520 nm, diminishing color-rendering ability). Achieving uniform dispersion of these phosphors presents another challenge during the WLED encapsulation process. In this context, we propose a strategy to "kill three birds with one stone" by preparing a blue-light-excited cyan-emitting carbon-dot (CD)-Ormosil gel. The glass derived from this gel exhibits a strong absorption band at 450 nm and photoluminescence peaks at 485 and 520 nm, thereby reducing the "blue overshoot" and filling the "cyan gap" in the WLED's spectrum. Furthermore, the CD-Ormosil gel demonstrates excellent compatibility with commercial phosphors, making it an ideal encapsulating material for WLED devices. Therefore, the development of this cyan-emitting CD-Ormosil gel holds great promise to address the issues of blue overshoot, cyan gap, and phosphor encapsulation in WLED technology, paving the way for more efficient, healthier, and visually appealing lighting solutions.

Here, to effectively address the inherent low charge transfer capability of covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a series of tetraaminophenylporphyrin (TAPP)-based donor-acceptor type COFs with gradient missing-linker defects (TAPP-COF-X, X = 0, 5, 10, 20, 30) have been synthesized by integrating a monomer truncation strategy with donor-acceptor engineering. The electrocatalytic activities of TAPP-COF-X toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) first increase and then decrease as the defect density increases. Among all TAPP-COF-X, TAPP-COF-20 exhibits the highest ORR and HER activities. When combined with carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH), the resulting TAPP-COF-20/MWCNTsCOOH composite shows the best activity toward dopamine (DA) sensing among all TAPP-COF-X/MWCNTsCOOH composites. Furthermore, TAPP-COF-20 provides the superior ORR/HER stability and excellent antiinterference ability for DA detection. The enhanced performance of TAPP-COF-20 toward ORR, HER, and DA sensing originates from the synergy of the donor-acceptor push-pull interaction, defect-facilitated charge transport, and (or) high conductivity of MWCNTs-COOH.

To enable industrial implementation, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) must retain structural stability under humid conditions. Given the vast chemical space, we introduce a transformer-based language model to predict the water stability of MOFs. The model shows good predictive accuracy when validated against more than 600 experimentally reported MOFs. By integrating performance and physical-property prediction models, one MOF with both high ethane/ethylene separation performance and potential water stability was identified from a hypothetical database of over 2 million MOF structures. Multiscale calculations indicated that the outstanding separation performance of this material originates from its unique pore architecture: dumbbell-shaped channels can create strong interactions at the central constrictions, along with a layered-pillar structure providing multiple adsorption sites. This study may offer an efficient strategy for discovering industrially viable MOFs and rational guidelines for designing high-performance adsorbents.

Abstract Perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) show promising potential in the optoelectronic field, but their commercial application is limited by the challenges of aqueous stability and large-scale production. Herein, we tackled both the issues via “one stone,” namely multidentate coordination strategy. This approach leverages 3-bromo-2-methylpropionic acid (BMPA), where the carboxyl and bromomethyl groups provide robust four-site anchoring to the surface Cs+ atoms. Experiments and theoretical calculations reveal such multidentate coordination could effectively passivate halide vacancies and suppresses defect formation. Each batch enables the production over 1.2 g BMPA PeQDs at production yield of >85% and low cost of ∼56 CNY/g, with no obvious emission shift and a near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQYs), demonstrating exceptional batch-to-batch consistency. Furthermore, the robust interface affords superior environmental resilience, with the PeQDs dispersion retaining approximately 50% of its photoluminescence (PL) after 960 h of storage at 25 °C. Finally, the white light-emitting diodes (LEDs), fabricated using these PeQDs, exhibit standard white emission with color coordinates of (0.33, 0.33), high color rendering index of 92.6, and significantly improved stability. This work underscores the potential of the multidentate strategy as a robust and efficient pathway for the commercial-scale manufacturing of aqueous PeQDs.

Halide perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) are promising as gain materials for amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), yet their environmentally friendly and scalable wet-chemistry synthesis remains challenging. Meanwhile, severe nonradiative-recombination channels impair ASE performance of neat PeQDs. Herein, we demonstrate a green and scalable strategy employing bio-sourced zwitterionic lecithin as a ligand and hexane as a solvent. This approach enables single-batch production of high-quality CsPbBr3 PeQDs of over 10 grams, with potential scaling-up using industrial equipment. Theoretical calculations and experimental characterizations reveal that such scalability stems from suppressed Ostwald ripening, driven by the synergistic covalent and electrostatic interactions between PeQD surface and the functional groups. The resulting PeQDs exhibit remarkably inhibited nonradiative recombination from both Auger recombination and electron-phonon coupling, alongside a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 95%. Lecithin also endows PeQDs with enhanced stability under air, UV irradiation, heat, and polar solvents. Benefiting from such merits, lecithin-PeQDs achieve outstanding ASE performance with significantly low thresholds of 230.4 and 50.1 µJ cm- 2 under nanosecond and femtosecond laser excitation, respectively, both representing state-of-the-art levels for neat PeQD films. This work not only provides a green and efficient route for mass production of PeQDs, but opens a new avenue for designing high-performance gain materials.

Dimeric acceptors (DMAs) exhibit significant potential for optimizing both the efficiency and stability of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, medium band-gap DMAs with a high open-circuit voltage (Voc) for efficient OSCs remain underexplored. In this study, we designed and synthesized a medium bandgap dimeric acceptor, designated DYO-1, through the strategy of alkoxy side-chain substitutions. The resultant DYO-1 exhibited an upshifted lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level and blue-shifted absorption. Notably, an o-xylene (o-XY) processed OSC with a PM6:DYO-1 binary blend achieved an ultra-high Voc of 1.022 V and a fill factor (FF) of 73.9%, resulting in a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.1%. To our knowledge, this is the highest PCE reported thus far for dimer-based OSCs with a Voc exceeding 1.0 V. Furthermore, DYO-1 was incorporated into a PM6:L8-BO-X blend film, effectively reducing excessive aggregation of the host blend film, thus improving the carrier transport efficiency and enhancing both the short-circuit current (Jsc) and FF. Alongside the improvement in Voc, the PM6:L8-BO-X:DYO-1 based ternary OSC, which is prepared using an o-XY solvent, achieved a prominent PCE of 19.6%. Additionally, a module device with an effective area of 13.5 cm2 exhibited a PCE of 15.8%, highlighting the potential for large-area fabrications. Our study unveils the importance of medium bandgap dimeric acceptors in achieving efficient and stable OSCs, providing valuable insights into the design of high-performance electron acceptors.

With merits of good solution processability, intrinsic flexibility, etc, organic/organic interconnecting layers (ICLs) are highly desirable for tandem organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Herein, an n‐doped cross‐linked organic electron transport layer (ETL), named c‐NDI‐Br:PEI is developed, via a simple in situ quaternization reaction between bromopentyl‐substituted naphthalene diimide derivative (NDI‐Br) and polyethylenimine (PEI). Due to strong self‐doping, c‐NDI‐Br:PEI films exhibit a high electrical conductivity (0.06 S cm −1 ), which is important for efficient hole and electron reombination in ICL of tandem OPVs. In addition, the cross‐linked ETLs show strong work function modulation ability, and good solvent‐resistance. The above features enable c‐NDI‐Br:PEI to function as an efficient ETL not only for single‐junction OPVs, but also for tandem devices without any metal layer in ICL. Under solar radiation, the single‐junction device with c‐NDI‐Br:PEI as ETL achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.18%, surpassing the ZnO‐based device (17.09%). The homo‐ and hetero‐tandem devices with m‐PEDOT:PSS:c‐NDI‐Br:PEI as ICL exhibit remarkable PCEs of 19.06% and 20.06%, respectively. Under 808 nm laser radiation with a photon flux of 57 mW cm −2 , the homo‐tandem device presents a superior PCE of 38.5%. This study provides a new ETL for constructing all‐solution‐processed organic/organic ICL, which can be integrated in flexible and wearable devices.

Near-ultraviolet (NUV) light is critical for applications in lighting, manufacturing, and medical fields, yet existing NUV emitters often suffer from complex syntheses or rely on toxic or unsustainable materials. Herein, we present a facile solvothermal synthesis of high-efficiency, narrow-band NUV-emitting carbon dots (NUV-CDs) derived from bio-derivable phloroglucinol. These NUV-CDs exhibit a sharp emission peak at 403 nm with a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 60 % and a narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 35 nm in ethanol solution. Structural and spectroscopic analyses reveal that the NUV-CDs are formed through dehydration and dehydrogenation reactions, resulting in a single type of emissive center with weak environmental interactions. When integrated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix and applied as a light-conversion coating on a UV-LED chip, the resulting device emits at 408 nm with an FWHM of 50 nm and an exceptional color purity of 87.7 %. This study offers a promising, environmentally friendly alternative for high-performance NUV light sources, complementing the spectral gap of existing CD materials.

The synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) with tailored properties commonly requires time-consuming trial-and-error experimentation, in part because of a poorly understood and controlled chemical conversion of the precursor material. Here, we first report on the solid-state pyrolysis or solvothermal conversion of an ortho-aminophenol (oAP) precursor, comprising ortho-disposed amino and hydroxyl groups on a benzene ring. We find that both conversion reactions resulted in a two emission-colour product, which could be separated into distinct blueemitting CDs (bCDs, lambda peak = 420 nm) and yellow-emitting CDs (yCDs, lambda peak = 565 nm) by repetitive column chromatography. Systematic characterization revealed that both CDs comprise a planar graphene-like interior, but that they are distinguished by that the bCDs comprise an intermixed significant amino-rich fluorophore while the yCDs instead comprise a pyridinic-rich fluorophore. This implies that the bCDs are formed via activation of the amino group of the oAP precursor, whereas the synthesis of the yCDs constituted a simultaneous activation of both the amino and hydroxyl groups. With this knowledge at hand, we managed to direct the chemical conversion of the oAP precursor to yield either solely bCDs or yCDs by adding a catalyst (either the Lewis acid AlCl3 & sdot;6H2O or the Lewis base NaOH) that selectively and efficiently activated only one of the reaction pathways. This demonstration is important in that it shows that the synthesis of CDs with desired properties can be realized with efficient rational instead of trial-and-error means.

The newly developed dimeric acceptor CH8-10, featuring a chlorinated thiophene flexible linker, enables high-performance organic solar cells with a power conversion efficiency reaching 19.6% in ternary device architectures.

The analogous physical and chemical properties of methane (CH4) and nitrogen (N2) pose a great challenge for their separation. Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs), combining the good separation performance of fillers and easy processability of polymers, are expected to address this challenging task. In this work, one Hofmann-type metal-organic framework (MOF), CoNi-DABCO, featuring abundant oppositely adjacent open metal sites, narrow pore size, and strong binding affinity toward CH4, is introduced into the polymer of polydimethylsiloxane to fabricate MMMs. The presence of CoNi-DABCO in the membranes could enhance the adsorption capacity for CH4, thus facilitating the transport of CH4 molecules through the membranes. Specially, the MMM containing 20 wt% CoNi-DABCO displays a high CH4 permeability of 1285 Barrer and maintains a good CH4/N2 mixed-gas selectivity of 3.7. Furthermore, the MMMs show good pressure resistance (up to 10 bar) and long-term stability for 30 days. This study suggests the potential of Hofmann-type MOF in the development of high-performance membranes for CH4/N2 separation.

Blue light emitted by commercial white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) in the 440-470 nm range poses ocular health risks with prolonged exposure. Effective filtration is crucial for health-conscious lighting, but traditional filters often cause color distortion by completely removing blue emission. In this study, we address this challenge by synthesizing carbon dots (CDs) with strong absorption at 460 nm and bright cyan emission at 485 nm, featuring a photoluminescence quantum yield of 65% and a narrow full width at half-maximum of 30 nm. When embedded in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix, the CDs@PVA films effectively filter UV-to-blue light, reducing the blue-light ratio from 27.2% to 2.7%. At the same time, the cyan emission preserves the white light's spectral composition, achieving a color rendering index of 83 ± 5. This dual functionality demonstrates the potential of CDs to enable safer WLEDs that improve both ocular health and lighting quality.

Deep-blue (DB) emitters that feature high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and narrow spectral bandwidth are desired for a variety of optoelectronic applications, particularly for lighting, illumination, and lasing. Currently favored DB emitters constitute quantum dots comprising cadmium or lead and organic compounds derived from petroleum, but they suffer from toxicity and sustainability issues. Here, we report the solvothermal synthesis of DB-emitting carbon dots (DB-CDs) using bioderivable phloroglucinol as the sole starting material, which exhibit a peak emission wavelength of 403 nm, narrow spectral full width at half-maximum of 35 nm, and high PLQY of 61% in ethanol. The DB-CDs with a planar structure are demonstrated to comprise distinct graphene segments in a polyether-cross-link network, with the former functioning as the fluorophore. The application merit of the DB-CDs is exemplified by their implementation as the gain medium in a random laser device, which exhibits a threshold optical power density of 40.5 kW cm-2. This study thus demonstrates a path toward efficient and sustainable deep-blue emitters, which can be exploited in practical applications.

The experimental results showed that the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of the THPON3-THPC-treated cotton fabric increased significantly (by up to 32.5%), and the length of damage in the vertical burning test was reduced to 8.1 cm with no afterflame. Cone calorimeter tests revealed a significant reduction in combustion efficiency, with the peak heat release rate (PHRR) decreasing from 283.1 to 112.9 kW/m2 and the total heat release (THR) decreasing from 21.8 to 4.6 MJ/m2. Compared to the traditional Proban ammonia curing process, THPON3-THPC demonstrated greater flame-retardant effectiveness. This treatment improved both the comfort and environmental sustainability of the flame-retardant cotton fabric. Furthermore, experimental results showed that THPON3 achieved formaldehyde removal rates of 92.5% (E2 grade) and 68.3% (NAF grade) from plywood, outperforming urea and demonstrating significant formaldehyde removal capabilities. As an efficient formaldehyde scavenger, THPON3 significantly inhibited and delayed the release of formaldehyde from plywood. Additionally, cytotoxicity tests showed that THPON3 exhibited no significant toxicity to Hacat and BEAS-2B cells at a concentration of 800 mu M, indicating a very low risk to human health in the event of accidental ingestion or inhalation. These findings are important for the application of THPON3 in flame-retardant and residential building materials.

The intrinsically disordered periodic architecture inherent in natural biomaterials exhibits significant potential for serving as resonant cavities, enabling the development of eco-friendly, biocompatible, and cost-effective microlaser systems. In this study, we demonstrate a biomaterial-based random laser utilizing birch leaf-derived carbon dots (CDs) as the gain medium. CDs ethanol solution was introduced into the peanut via microinjection, successfully fabricating CDs-doped peanut samples that preserved the fluorescence characteristics of the CDs in solution. Random lasing was observed on multiple surfaces of the CDs-doped peanut under pulsed laser excitation, with varying thresholds across different regions. This demonstrates that the natural disordered microstructure of biological materials can facilitate random lasing. Analysis of surface morphology and scattering patterns indicates that the lasing mechanism arises from multiple light scattering within the disordered structure of the peanut surface, forming coherent feedback loops. Furthermore, the intrinsic biocompatibility of bio-derived CDs effectively addresses the persistent toxicity concerns associated with synthetic laser materials. Such biomaterial-based random lasers could enable eco-friendly and cost-effective photonic applications.