A single nanophotonic platform for producing circularly polarized white light from non-chiral emitters.

Direct manipulation of light spin-angular momentum is desired in optoelectronic applications such as, displays, telecommunications, or imaging. Generating polarized light from luminophores avoids using optical components that cause brightness losses and hamper on-chip integration of light sources. Endowing chirality to achiral emitters for direct generation of polarized light benefits from existing materials and can be achieved by chiral nanophotonics.

Multilayer films for photon upconversion-driven photoswitching.

Photoswitchable materials are of significant interest for diverse applications from energy and data storage to additive manufacturing and soft robotics. However, the absorption profile is often a limiting factor for practical applications. This can be overcome using indirect excitation complementary photophysical pathways, such as triplet sensitisation or photon upconversion.

Inducing Efficient and Multiwavelength Circularly Polarized Emission From Perovskite Nanocrystals Using Chiral Metasurfaces.

Chiral nano-emitters have recently received great research attention due to their technological applications and the need for a fundamental scientific understanding of the structure-property nexus of these nanoscale materials. Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (LHP NCs) with many interesting optical properties have anticipated great promise for generating chiral emission. However, inducing high anisotropy chiral emission from achiral perovskite NCs remains challenging.

High-Resolution Distance Dependence Interrogation of Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopic Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Enabled by Two-Dimensional Molybdenum Disulfide Substrates.

Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is a powerful surface imaging tool used in the electrolytic environment. Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) can give more information in addition to the morphology provided by the SICM by utilizing label-free Raman spectroscopy aided by the localized plasmonic enhancement from the metal-coated probes. In this study, the integration of SICM with TERS is demonstrated through employing a silver-coated plasmonic nanopipette.

Two-way photoswitching norbornadiene derivatives for solar energy storage.

Molecular photoswitches of norbornadiene (NBD) derivatives have been effectively applied in molecular solar-thermal energy storage (MOST) by photoisomerization of NBD to a quadricyclane (QC) state. However, a challenge of the NBD-based MOST system is the lack of a reversible two-way photoswitching process, limiting conversion from QC to thermal and catalytic methods. Here we design a series of NBD derivatives with a combination of acceptor and donor units to achieve two-way photoswitching, which can optically release energy by back-conversion from QC to NBD.

Exploring -dianthrylbenzenes for molecular solar thermal energy storage.

Molecular solar thermal systems, which absorb light, store it, and release it as heat, have been extensively researched, yet many potential candidates remain unexplored. To expand this range, five specifically designed -dianthrylbenzenes were investigated. Anthracene dimers have been underexplored due to issues like photooxidation and varying photodimerization efficiency.

In situ shaping of intricated 3D bacterial cellulose constructs using sacrificial agarose and diverted oxygen inflow.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is gathering increased attention due to its remarkable physico-chemical features. The high biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, and mechanical and thermal stability endorse BC as a suitable candidate for biomedical applications. Nonetheless, exploiting BC for tissue regeneration demands three-dimensional, intricately shaped implants, a highly ambitious endeavor.

Deterministic grayscale nanotopography to engineer mobilities in strained MoS FETs.

Field-effect transistors (FETs) based on two-dimensional materials (2DMs) with atomically thin channels have emerged as a promising platform for beyond-silicon electronics. However, low carrier mobility in 2DM transistors driven by phonon scattering remains a critical challenge. To address this issue, we propose the controlled introduction of localized tensile strain as an effective means to inhibit electron-phonon scattering in 2DM.

Norbornadiene-Quadricyclane Photoswitches with Enhanced Solar Spectrum Match.

Herein, we report monomeric and dimeric norbornadiene-quadricyclane molecular photoswitch systems intended for molecular solar thermal applications. A series of six new norbornadiene derivatives conjugated with benzothiadiazole as the acceptor unit and dithiafulvene as the donor unit were synthesized and fully characterized. The photoswitches were evaluated by experimentally and theoretically measuring optical absorption profiles and thermal conversion of quadricyclane to norbornadiene.

Migration of human T cells can be differentially directed by electric fields depending on the extracellular microenvironment.

T cell migration plays an essential role in the immune response and T cell-based therapies. It can be modulated by chemical and physical cues such as electric fields (EFs). The mechanisms underlying electrotaxis (cell migration manipulated by EFs) are not fully understood and systematic studies with immune cells are rare.

Pyrene Functionalized Norbornadiene-Quadricyclane Fluorescent Photoswitches: Characterization of their Spectral Properties and Application in Imaging of Amyloid Beta Plaques.

This study presents the synthesis and characterization of two fluorescent norbornadiene (NBD) photoswitches, each incorporating two conjugated pyrene units. Expanding on the limited repertoire of reported photoswitchable fluorescent NBDs, we explore their properties with a focus on applications in bioimaging of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques. While the fluorescence emission of the NBD decreases upon photoisomerization, aligning with what has been previously reported, for the first time we observed luminescence after irradiation of the quadricyclane (QC) isomer.

Do Ionic Liquids Exhibit the Required Characteristics to Dissolve, Extract, Stabilize, and Purify Proteins? Past-Present-Future Assessment.

Proteins are highly labile molecules, thus requiring the presence of appropriate solvents and excipients in their liquid milieu to keep their stability and biological activity. In this field, ionic liquids (ILs) have gained momentum in the past years, with a relevant number of works reporting their successful use to dissolve, stabilize, extract, and purify proteins. Different approaches in protein-IL systems have been reported, namely, proteins dissolved in () neat ILs, () ILs as co-solvents, () ILs as adjuvants, () ILs as surfactants, () ILs as phase-forming components of aqueous biphasic systems, and () IL-polymer-protein/peptide conjugates.

Combining thermal scanning probe lithography and dry etching for grayscale nanopattern amplification.

Grayscale structured surfaces with nanometer-scale features are used in a growing number of applications in optics and fluidics. Thermal scanning probe lithography achieves a lateral resolution below 10 nm and a vertical resolution below 1 nm, but its maximum depth in polymers is limited. Here, we present an innovative combination of nanowriting in thermal resist and plasma dry etching with substrate cooling, which achieves up to 10-fold amplification of polymer nanopatterns into SiO without proportionally increasing surface roughness.

Using electric fields to control insects: current applications and future directions.

Chemical-based interventions are mostly used to control insects that are harmful to human health and agriculture or that simply cause a nuisance. An overreliance on these insecticides however raises concerns for the environment, human health, and the development of resistance, not only in the target species. As such, there is a critical need for the development of novel nonchemical technologies to control insects.

Multichromophoric photoswitches for solar energy storage: from azobenzene to norbornadiene, and MOST things in between.

The ever-increasing global demands for energy supply and storage have led to numerous research efforts into finding and developing renewable energy technologies. Molecular solar thermal energy storage (MOST) systems utilise molecular photoswitches that can be isomerized to a metastable high-energy state upon solar irradiation. These high-energy isomers can then be thermally or catalytically converted back to their original state, releasing the stored energy as heat on-demand, offering a means of emission-free energy storage from a closed system, often from only organic materials.

Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon-Based Heterogeneous Catalysts for Energy Release of Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage Materials.

Molecular solar thermal energy storage (MOST) systems are rapidly becoming a feasible alternative to energy storage and net-zero carbon emission heating. MOST systems involve a single photoisomerization pair that incorporates light absorption, storage, and heat release processes in one recurring cycle. Despite significant recent advancements in the field, the catalytic back-reaction from MOST systems remains relatively unexplored.

High Polymer Molecular Weight Yields Solar Cells with Simultaneously Improved Performance and Thermal Stability.

Simple synthetic routes, high active layer thickness tolerance as well as stable organic solar cells are relentlessly pursued as key enabling traits for the upscaling of organic photovoltaics. Here, the potential to address these issues by tuning donor polymer molecular weight is investigated. Specifically, the focus is on PTQ10, a polymer with low synthetic complexity, with number average molecular weights of 2.

pH-Sensitive Acrylic Terpolymers for the Coating of Orally Administered Drugs Used for Colonic Release.

Polymeric coatings are a promising option for the development of delivery systems for orally administered drugs. However, the gastrointestinal conditions to which they are subjected, which include low pH and solubility as well as peristaltic movements, can limit their applications. In this work, different formulations of polymeric coatings were produced using pH-sensitive materials consisting of copolymers of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and methacrylic acid.

The European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) research roadmap 2040: Advanced strategies for exploiting the vast potential of polysaccharides as renewable bioresources.

Polysaccharides are among the most abundant bioresources on earth and consequently need to play a pivotal role when addressing existential scientific challenges like climate change and the shift from fossil-based to sustainable biobased materials. The Research Roadmap 2040 of the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) provides an expert's view on how future research and development strategies need to evolve to fully exploit the vast potential of polysaccharides as renewable bioresources. It is addressed to academic researchers, companies, as well as policymakers and covers five strategic areas that are of great importance in the context of polysaccharide related research: (I) Materials & Engineering, (II) Food & Nutrition, (III) Biomedical Applications, (IV) Chemistry, Biology & Physics, and (V) Skills & Education.

The statistical probability factor in triplet mediated photon upconversion: a case study with perylene.

Triplet-triplet annihilation photon upconversion (TTA-UC) is a process where two low-energy photons are converted into one higher-energy photon. A crucial component for an efficient upconversion process is the statistical probability factor (), defined as the probability of the formation of a high-energy singlet state upon coupling of two low-energy triplet states. Theoretically, depends on the energy level distribution, molecular orientation, inter-triplet exchange coupling of triplet dyads, and spin-mixing of resulting spin states (singlet, triplet, and quintet).

High -Factor Plasmonic Surface Lattice Resonances in Colloidal Nanoparticle Arrays.

Surface lattice resonances (SLRs) sustained by ordered metal arrays are characterized by their narrow spectral features, remarkable quality factors, and the ability to tune their spectral properties based on the periodicity of the array. However, the majority of these structures are fabricated using classical lithographic processes or require postannealing steps at high temperatures to enhance the quality of the metal. These limitations hinder the widespread utilization of these periodic metal arrays in various applications.

Site Selectivity of Peptoids as Azobenzene Scaffold for Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage.

Storing solar energy is a key challenge in modern science. MOlecular Solar Thermal (MOST) systems, in particular those based on azobenzene switches, have received great interest in the last decades. The energy storage properties of azobenzene (t <4 days; ΔH~270 kJ/kg) must be improved for future applications.

Bulky Substituents Promote Triplet-Triplet Annihilation Over Triplet Excimer Formation in Naphthalene Derivatives.

Visible-to-ultraviolet (UV) triplet-triplet annihilation photochemical upconversion (TTA-UC) has gained a lot of attention recently due to its potential for driving demanding high-energy photoreactions using low-intensity visible light. The efficiency of this process has rapidly improved in the past few years, in part thanks to the recently discovered annihilator compound 1,4-bis((triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl)naphthalene (N-2TIPS). Despite its beneficial TTA-UC characteristics, the success of N-2TIPS in this context is not yet fully understood.