Blue Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes toward Full-Color Displays: Materials, Devices, and Large-Scale Fabrication.

Quantum dots (QDs) light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) are gaining significant interest for the next generation of display and lighting applications because of their wide color gamut, cost-effective solution processability, and good stability. The last decades have witnessed rapid advances in improving their efficiency and lifetime. So far, among the three primary colors of QLEDs devices, the performance of blue QLEDs is considerably inferior to that of green and red ones including Cd-based and Cd-free devices, which is a key bottleneck hindering QLEDs' application.

Crystal reconstructed cubic nickel oxide with energetic reactive interfaces for exceptional electrochromic smart windows.

Electrochromic smart windows can realize intelligent photothermal regulation by applying a low potential, which is of great significance for energy-saving buildings and achieving low carbon emission. However, the dense structure of conventional metal oxide electrochromic materials limits ion transport efficiency, resulting in poor electrochromic properties. Here, we propose a surface crystal reconstruction strategy for cubic NiO through phosphorylation (P-NiO) to build energetic reactive interfaces and enhance the electrochromic performance.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: a half-century historical perspective.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has evolved significantly over fifty years into a powerful analytical technique. This review aims to achieve five main goals. (1) Providing a comprehensive history of SERS's discovery, its experimental and theoretical foundations, its connections to advances in nanoscience and plasmonics, and highlighting collective contributions of key pioneers.

Interactions and Oscillatory Dynamics of Chemically Powered Soft Swimmers.

We report the interactions and dynamics of chemically powered soft swimmers that undergo autonomous oscillatory motion. The interaction of autonomous entities is the basis for the development of collective behaviors among biological organisms. Collective behaviors enable organisms to efficiently attain food and coordinate against threats.

Photocatalytic Partial Water Oxidation Promoted by a Hydrogen Acceptor-Hydroxyl Mediator Couple.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is an important chemical in synthetic chemistry with huge demands. Photocatalytic synthesis of HO via oxygen reduction and water oxidation reactions (ORR and WOR) is considered as a promising and desirable solution for on-site applications. However, the efficiency of such a process is low due to the poor solubility of molecular oxygen and the rapid reverse reaction of hydroxyl radicals (OH) with hydrogen atoms (H).

Large Scale Synthesis of Red-Emitting Quantum Dots for Efficient and Stable Light-Emitting Diodes.

It is known that large-scale synthesis of emitters affords colloidal quantum dot (CQD) materials with a great opportunity toward the mass production of quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) based commercial electronic products. Herein, an unprecedented example of scalable CQD (> 0.5 kilogram) is achieved by using a core/shell structure of CdZnSe/ZnSeS/CdZnS, in which CdZnSe, ZnSeS, and CdZnS alloys are used as the inner core, transition layer and outermost shell, respectively.

Buried hole-selective interface engineering for high-efficiency tin-lead perovskite solar cells with enhanced interfacial chemical stability.

Mixed Sn-Pb perovskites are attracting significant attention due to their narrow bandgap and consequent potential for all-perovskite tandem solar cells. However, the conventional hole transport materials can lead to band misalignment or induce degradation at the buried interface of perovskite. Here we designed a self-assembled material 4-(9H-carbozol-9-yl)phenylboronic acid (4PBA) for the surface modification of the substrate as the hole-selective contact.

Controllable Self-Assembly of V═O Metalloradical Complex with Intramolecular Charge Transfer for Enhanced NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Photothermal Therapy.

Near-infrared second region (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging provides enhanced tissue penetration, achieving efficient NIR-II fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging (PA)-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) all in one material remains a challenging yet promising approach in cancer treatment. Herein, open-shell V═O metalloradical complex (VONc) is self-assembled into VONc nanospheres (VONc NPs). VONc NPs exhibit light absorption from 300 to 1400 nm, fluorescence spectra ranging from 900 to 1400 nm, and a distinct fluorescence signal even at 1550 nm.

The development of paliperidone nanocrystals for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a complex and chronic psychiatric disorder that significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Ranking 12th among 310 diseases and injuries that result in disability, the number of patients suffering from schizophrenia continues to rise, emphasizing the urgent need for developing effective treatments. Despite the availability of effective antipsychotic drugs, over 80% of patients taking oral antipsychotics experience relapses, primarily caused by non-adherence as the high dosing frequency is required.

General Acetal-Protected Aldehyde Strategy for Facile Synthesis of Covalent Organic Frameworks with Splendid Crystallinity and Uniform Morphology.

Crystallinity and morphology are critical factors that closely related to the properties and applications of covalent organic frameworks (COFs). However, the controlled synthesis of COFs with both high crystallinity and uniform morphology remains a significant challenge due to uncontrollable polymerization and complex reaction conditions. In this work, we present a general acetal-protected aldehyde protocol for the facile synthesis of imine-linked COFs, which enables the simultaneous optimization of crystallinity and morphology.

Computational Study of Electrochemical CO Reduction on 2D Graphitic Carbon Nitride Supported Single-Atom (Al and P) Catalysts (SACs).

To mitigate the adverse effects of CO emissions, CO electroreduction to small organic products is a preferable solution and potential catalysts include the single-atom catalyst (SAC) which comprises individual atoms dispersed on 2D materials. Here, we used aluminum and phosphorus as the active sites for CO electroreductions by embedding them on the 2D graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) nano-surface. The resulting M-CN (M=Al and P) SACs were computationally studied for the CO electroreduction using density functional theory (DFT) and ab-initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations.

Peptide-Induced Hydrogelation with Ordered Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles Generating Reactive Oxygen Species for Integrated Wound Repair.

Hydrogels, with their high water content and flexible nature, are a promising class of medical dressings for combating bacterial wound infections. However, their development has been hindered by low sterilization efficiency. Here, this issue is addressed by designing a peptide hydrogel that assembles ordered metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles with photocatalytic bactericidal activity.

Exploring distinct modes of inter-spike cross-linking for enhanced neutralization by SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its Omicron subvariants drastically amplifies transmissibility, infectivity, and immune escape, mainly due to their resistance to most neutralizing antibodies. Thus, exploring the mechanisms underlying antibody evasion is crucial. Although the full-length native form of antibody, immunoglobulin G (IgG), offers valuable insights into the neutralization, structural investigations primarily focus on the fragment of antigen-binding (Fab).

Bridged Carbolong Modulating Interfacial Charge Transfer Enhancement for High-Performance Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

Efficient regulation of perovskite/C interface is crucial to improving the long-term stability of the inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, precise methods for controlling the perovskite/C interface have yet to be thoroughly explored. Herein, we develop a carbolong chemical manipulation strategy to improve the interface contact of perovskite/C due to versatile functional groups and excellent optoelectronic properties of carbolong metallaaromatics.

Advanced Nanotechnology-Based Nucleic Acid Medicines.

Nucleic acid medicines are a highly attractive modality that act in a sequence-specific manner on target molecules. To date, 21 such products have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the development of nucleic acid medicines continues to face various challenges, including tissue and cell targeting as well as intracellular delivery.

Isomeric Covalent Organic Frameworks for High-Efficiency Photocatalytic CO Reduction: Substituent Position Effect.

The exploration of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for high-efficiency photocatalytic CO reduction is urgently demanded. Herein, COF-based catalysts are constructed for the selective photoreduction of CO to CO via delicately designed isomeric monomers with substituent at the 4,5,9,10- positions (K) or 1,3,6,8-positions (A) of pyrene knots. The distinct substituted regions significantly affect the planarity of pyrene knots, resulting in COFs with different microstructures and photocatalytic activities.

Ultra-Fast, Unidirectional Water Absorption on Wood Ear.

Materials exhibiting rapid, unidirectional liquid absorption are desirable for comfort textiles and wound dressings. Implementing chemical or structural gradient along the vertical axis of substrates is an effective way to achieve such properties. Liquid's lateral spreading across the substrate affects area occurring vertical imbibition.

Traditional complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) use among PLHIV on antiretroviral medication.

Background: Traditional complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) are products and practices that differ from conventional allopathic medicine. There continues to be an increase in the use of these methods of treatment in developed and developing countries worldwide. This often owes to the perceived ability of these treatment methods to cure chronic medical conditions like HIV.

Real-Time In Situ Tracking of the Penetration and Uptake Behavior of Nano-pesticides in Tea Plants Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

In situ monitoring of the uptake and transportation process of nano-pesticides during crop growth remains challenging thus far. In this report, the different three sizes of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy probes of nano-pesticides loaded with ferbam and acetamiprid are representative non-systemic or systemic pesticides, respectively. The probes were verified to have strong signals of the Raman spectrum enhancement effect.

Bacterial nanocellulose production: Improvement in productivity and properties via a sustainable medium.

High production cost is a significant barrier to commercial bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) production. This study addresses this issue using a low-cost molasses and cheese whey medium via Gluconacetobacter hansenii. The one-factor-at-a-time method investigated the effect of critical factors on BNC production, including total sugar and total protein concentrations (g/L), initial pH, and additives such as ethanol and acetic acid (%(v/v)).

Intercalation of Polyacrylonitrile Nanoparticles in TiCT MXene Layers for Improved Supercapacitance.

We report the intercalation of polyacrylonitrile nanoparticles in TiCT MXene layers through simple sonication. The use of polyacrylonitrile, which was synthesized via radical polymerization, offered dual benefits: (1) It increased the interlayer spacing of MXene, thereby exposing more surface area and enhancing ion transport channels during charge and discharge cycles, and (2) Integrating MXene with polyacrylonitrile enables the creation of a composite with conductive properties, following percolation principle. X-ray diffraction analysis showed an increase in the c-lattice parameter, indicative of the interlayer spacing, from 22.