Monomer sequence design at two solvent interface enables the synthesis of highly photoactive carbon nitride.

Structural modifications in carbon nitrides and related carbon-based materials have been achieved in recent years by organizing their monomers into versatile supramolecular structures that serve as reactants for the high temperature solid-state reaction. To date, the organization is usually carried out in one solvent where the building blocks must be dispersed. Here, we show the utilization of a molecule with both hydrogen bond donor and acceptor sites for constructing hydrogen bonded frameworks in interfacial systems.

Tailoring carbon nitride properties and photoactivity by interfacial engineering of hydrogen-bonded frameworks.

The rational synthesis of carbon nitride materials, ranging from polymeric carbon nitride to nitrogen-doped carbon, by supramolecular preorganization of their monomers is a powerful tool for the design of their morphology and photophysical and catalytic activities. Here we show a new facile and scalable approach for the synthesis of ordered CN materials with excellent photoactivity, which consists of supramolecular interfacial preorganization of CN monomers at the interface of two non-miscible solvents. Molecular dynamic simulations supported by experimental results reveal that an appropriate choice of monomers and solvents leads to the formation of a supramolecular assembly solely at the interface of the solvents.

Thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA)-Carbon Dot/Aerogel Fluorescent Sensor for Lanthanide and Actinide Ions.

Contamination of groundwater with radioactive substances comprising actinides and lanthanides is a significant environmental hazard and thus the development of selective, sensitive, and easy-to-apply sensors for water-soluble actinide and lanthanide ions is highly sought. We constructed a new selective fluorescent sensor for UO , Sm, and Eu based on a carbon dot (C-dot)-aerogel hybrid prepared through in situ carbonization of 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA), a high-affinity heavy metal chelator. The TTA-C-dot-aerogel enabled the detection of UO ions, which induced a significant red fluorescence shift, whereas Eu and particularly Sm ions gave rise to pronounced fluorescence quenching.

Colorimetric Polydiacetylene-Aerogel Detector for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

A new hybrid system comprising polydiacetylene (PDA), a chromatic conjugated polymer, embedded within aerogel pores has been constructed. The PDA-aerogel powder underwent dramatic color changes in the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), facilitated through infiltration of the gas molecules into the highly porous aerogel matrix and their interactions with the aerogel-embedded PDA units. The PDA-aerogel composite exhibited rapid color/fluorescence response and enhanced signals upon exposure to low VOC concentrations.