Light-Induced Self-Assembled Polydiacetylene/Carbon Dot Functional "Honeycomb".

The design of functional supramolecular assemblies from individual molecular building blocks is a fundamental challenge in chemistry and material science. We report on the fabrication of "honeycomb" films by light-induced coassembly of diacetylene derivatives and carbon dots. Specifically, modulating noncovalent interactions between the carbon dots, macrocyclic diacetylene, and anthraquinone diacetylene facilitates formation of thin films exhibiting a long-range, uniform pore structure.

Genistein carbon dots exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro.

Genistein, an isoflavone from soybean, has attracted attention due to its health benefits, particularly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Clinical applications of genistein, however, have been limited due to the considerable hydrophobicity and lower bioavailability of the molecule. In this study, carbon dots (C-dots) synthesized from genistein as the carbonaceous precursor exhibit antioxidant properties in test-tube and cell experiments.

Multispectral and Circular Polarization-Sensitive Carbon Dot-Polydiacetylene Capacitive Photodetector.

Multispectral photodetectors (MSPs) and circularly polarized light (CPL) sensors are important in opto-electronics, photonics, and imaging. A capacitive photodetector consisting of an interdigitated electrode coated with carbon dot/anthraquinone-polydiacetylene is constructed. Photoexcitation of the carbon dots induces transient electron transfer to the anthraquinone moieties, and concomitant change in the film dielectric constant and recorded capacitance.

Size-Selective Detection of Nanoparticles in Solution and Air by Imprinting.

Monitoring of nanoparticles (NPs) in air and aquatic environments is an unmet challenge accentuated by the rising exposure to anthropogenic or engineered NPs. The inherent heterogeneity in size, shape, and the stabilizing shell of NPs makes their selective recognition a daunting task. Thus far, only a few technologies have shown promise in detecting NPs; however, they are cumbersome, costly, and insensitive to the NPs morphology or composition.

Metal-catalyst-free gas-phase synthesis of long-chain hydrocarbons.

Development of sustainable processes for hydrocarbons synthesis is a fundamental challenge in chemistry since these are of unquestionable importance for the production of many essential synthetic chemicals, materials and carbon-based fuels. Current industrial processes rely on non-abundant metal catalysts, temperatures of hundreds of Celsius and pressures of tens of bars. We propose an alternative gas phase process under mild reaction conditions using only atomic carbon, molecular hydrogen and an inert carrier gas.

Sniffing Bacteria with a Carbon-Dot Artificial Nose.

Novel artificial nose based upon electrode-deposited carbon dots (C-dots). Significant selectivity and sensitivity determined by "polarity matching" between the C-dots and gas molecules. The C-dot artificial nose facilitates, for the first time, real-time, continuous monitoring of bacterial proliferation and discrimination among bacterial species, both between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and between specific strains.

Carbon dot-polymer nanoporous membrane for recyclable sunlight-sterilized facemasks.

Facemasks are considered the most effective means for preventing infection and spread of viral particles. In particular, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic underscores the urgent need for developing recyclable facemasks due to the considerable environmental damage and health risks imposed by disposable masks and respirators. We demonstrate synthesis of nanoporous membranes comprising carbon dots (C-dots) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), and demonstrate their potential use for recyclable, self-sterilized facemasks.

The pro-apoptotic domain of BIM protein forms toxic amyloid fibrils.

BIM is a key apoptotic protein, participating in diverse cellular processes. Interestingly, recent studies have hypothesized that BIM is associated with the extensive neuronal cell death encountered in protein misfolding diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Here, we report that the core pro-apoptotic domain of BIM, the BIM-BH3 motif, forms ubiquitous amyloid fibrils.

Porous Graphene Oxide-Metal Ion Composite for Selective Sensing of Organophosphate Gases.

Organophosphates are used as agricultural pesticides and also encountered as toxic nerve agents in chemical warfare. Accordingly, development of sensors for detecting and monitoring organophosphate vapors is highly sought after. We present a new capacitive gas sensor exhibiting remarkable specificity and sensitivity toward the organophosphate nerve gas simulants triethyl-phosphate (TEP) and dimethyl methyl phosphate and the pesticide dichlorvos.